Following the defeat of three separate articles that asked taxpayers to authorize additional spending, town officials have been working to finalize cuts to the 2009 budget to cover the overages.
Select board members discussed the proposed budget cuts at their July 20 meeting. Several town departments were asked to make cuts from within their budgets to free up funding.
REDUCE BUDGETS
Several town departments have since agreed to reduce their budgets, including the Moretown Planning Commission that offered their salary, a total of $1,500.
The Town Hall budget was cut by $2,500, which will cut maintenance and custodial services to the building. The town office budget was reduced by $900 by cutting partial custodian services and building maintenance.
The proposed cuts also include a $1,700 reduction in the lister's budget, a $1,500 reduction in the recreation fund, and $1,250 reduction in the constable budget by omitting training in 2009.
The zoning administrator's budget was reduced by $500 by cutting supplies and expenses. The select board budget was frozen and reduced by $700 for supplies and expenses.
GENERAL FUND
The Route 100B scenic corridor general fund was reduced by $1,000.
The proposed reductions total $42,050, which leaves town officials $6,000 shy, according to select board member David Van Deusen.
Select board chair Rae Washburn said, "I think we're really close to finding these cuts."
Town officials further discussed cutting the town's contract with the Washington County Sheriff's Department entirely, which would raise an additional $4,200.
"I don't see any harm in cutting it, outside of the morning time limiting of speeding for the children," Van Deusen said.
NOT COMFORTABLE
Washburn said he is not comfortable with cutting the contract yet, and plans to meet with the sheriff's department at a future time to discuss their police presence.
Select board members plan to discuss the sheriff's department coverage at a meeting in August and continue to work to finalize the proposed budget cuts.
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