Deerfield finance panel recommends budgets, approves most line items and tables several for follow-up

The Deerfield Finance Committee voted Feb. 2 to recommend funding levels for a broad swath of town accounts after Chair Julie Chalfant presented an updated budget analysis that showed an increase of $627,128 in projected revenues, a 3.2 percent margin available for non-debt expenditures.

Chalfant told the joint Finance Committee/Select Board meeting that the analysis and accompanying budget spreadsheets support moving forward with multiple recommendations. "We have a $627,128 increase in projected revenues, a 3.2 percent margin, available for non-debt expenditures," she said. Town staff member Christopher Dunne described efforts to keep department budgets within that threshold, while Holly Drake cautioned that "there are unlikely to be any large cuts possible."

Front-line recommendations passed with routine votes. The committee approved recommending $500 for the Moderator stipend (account 114-5100), $16,000 for Select Board salaries (122-5100) and $372,279 for Select Board staff salaries (122-5110); the staff-salary figure reflects a 1.64 percent decrease from last year after the temporary position was dropped. The Select Board administration line (122-5400) was cut to $13,000, a $6,000 (31.6 percent) reduction from the prior year, with members noting reduced travel and training expenses as the principal cause.

Committee operating funds drew brief debate. A motion to recommend $300 for Finance Committee operations (131-5400) passed 4-2 after Mark Brennan unsuccessfully moved to reduce the line to $200; at least one member asked whether registration fees for state meetings could be funded from another line.

The committee approved a 6.74 percent increase in the accountant salary line, recommending $103,978 for account 135-5110; that package includes 100 paid hours for Brenda Hill to assist in the transition to a new accountant. Accountant expense (135-5400) was increased to $28,450 to cover higher outside audit fees; that motion passed 5-0-1.

Several small recurring committee and commission requests were approved at the same levels as recent years, including Personnel Board $500, Open Space Committee $250, Zoning Board of Appeals $1,000, and Council on Aging $100. The Energy Committee and Planning Board requests were routine but the Planning Board's $2,000 item was tabled pending further discussion about training expenses; the PEG Access Capital request (155-5800) for $4,000 was also tabled amid questions about the correct balance in the franchise-fee-funded account. The Historical Commission appropriation of $1,175 was tabled for follow-up discussion with that commission.

The Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Service District set the veterans assessment at $18,202 (account 543-5400), a $2,250 (14.1 percent) increase, and the committee recommended that amount unanimously. The committee also recommended $2,500 for Veterans Day/Memorial Day expenses (692-5800).

On larger administrative items, the committee recommended $62,000 for legal expense (151-5300), $23,000 less than last year, and approved $99,000 for general insurance (196-5400), a $7,000 (7.6 percent) increase; a motion to table the insurance item while staff sought additional quotes failed, and the line passed 4-0-1. An OPEB figure of $51,176 based on 2025 total insurance costs was discussed, and after members questioned whether certain enterprise funds should contribute, Mr. Brennan withdrew the motion so departments can revise budgets to include OPEB costs.

The Finance Committee recommended a $100,000 Reserve Fund (132-5400), consistent with last year, and adjourned at 6:32 p.m. The committee did not finalize several tabled items and asked staff and the respective commissions to return with clarifications.

Votes at a glance: acceptance of Jan. 26 minutes (6-0-0); Moderator $500 (6-0-0); Select Board salaries $16,000 (unanimous); Select Board staff $372,279 (unanimous); Select Board admin $13,000 (6-0-0); Finance Committee operations $300 (4-2-0); Accountant salary $103,978 (6-0-0); Accountant expense $28,450 (5-0-1); PEG Access capital tabled (6-0-0 to table); Planning Board training item tabled (5-0-1 to table); Historical Commission item tabled (5-0-0 to table); Legal expense $62,000 (5-0-0); General insurance $99,000 (4-0-1); Reserve Fund $100,000 (5-0-0); adjournment (unanimous).

What comes next: staff were asked to return with updated figures on tabled items and with revised departmental budgets that incorporate OPEB where appropriate. The Select Board and Finance Committee will reconvene as needed to finalize recommendations before formal Town Meeting budget hearings.