East Lyme — The Board of Finance deliberated Monday and reduced both the 2016-17 proposed schools and town government budgets.

The Board of Finance voted 5-0 to cut $115,000 from the school board's adopted budget, which had represented a 3.5 percent increase over the 2015-16 budget.

Following the vote, the 2016-17 education budget stands at $45,484,605, or a 3.3 percent increase over the current budget.

The board then voted 4-1 to reduce the proposed town government budget by $275,000, which had represented a 3.99 percent increase over the 2015-16 spending plan.

The town government budget, which includes general government expenses, capital and debt service, now stands at $23,759,421, or 2.8 percent more than the current spending plan. 

Board members Lisa Picarazzi, Bill Weber, Camille Alberti and Steve Harney supported the $275,000 reduction, while Beth Hogan voted against it.

Board member Jason Pazzaglia was absent, but a letter from him was read aloud at the meeting.

First Selectman Mark Nickerson said he will next return to the Board of Finance with recommendations for cuts in specific departments.

The superintendent and school board also will review their new budget that is $115,000 less than the one it adopted.

During deliberations, the finance board proposed several different amounts to cut, before settling on $115,000 for the school board and $275,000 for general government.

Hogan and Alberti said they supported the school budget as proposed by the Board of Education.

Alberti listed reasons that included that the Board of Education already reduced its budget by 1 percent at a time when it is facing increases beyond its control: rising insurance premiums, and transportation and special education costs.

She said she sat in on labor contract negotiations and teachers had been underpaid relative to other schools in the District Reference Group and neighboring towns.

Also, during deliberations, board members suggested ways the town should consider reducing its budget in the future.

Picarazzi proposed a "paradigm shift" in aligning public-sector salaries more with trends within the private sector.   

Hogan suggested that a Board of Finance member be invited to sit in on negotiations for both union and nonunion employees.

She also suggested creating a subcommittee to review issues for municipalities, such as insurance.

k.drelich@theday.com