The Newcastle Board of Selectmen and Newcastle Finance Committee will recommend slightly different municipal budgets to voters at annual town meeting in June.
The selectmen will recommend a 2015-2016 budget of $1,567,048.52, an increase of $57,518.52 or 3.81 percent. The finance committee will recommend $1,490,144.62, a decrease of $19,385.38 or 1.28 percent.
The selectmen and finance committee finalized their budget recommendations during a joint meeting Monday, April 13.
The two bodies differ on whether to hire a new full-time deputy town clerk, on the amount of money to raise to rewrite the town’s land use ordinance and update its comprehensive plan, and on raises for the selectmen and town employees.
The selectmen recommend $31,200 or $15 per hour to add a full-time deputy town clerk.
The town office currently employs a full-time town administrator and town clerk and a part-time deputy town clerk. About eight to 10 years ago, the town office had a full-time town administrator, a full-time town clerk, and two full-time deputy town clerks.
The office needs to restore a full-time deputy position to manage the workload, according to the selectmen.
The finance committee did not recommend the new position.
The selectmen recommend $60,000 for the new comprehensive plan and land use ordinance, which it would add to $60,000 already on hand for the project. The finance committee recommends $30,000.
The town plans to spend the money to hire consultants and cover other expenses during the planning process.
The selectmen recommend a 5.65 percent raise for the town clerk, who has earned her certification and is taking on more responsibilities. The finance committee recommends a 3 percent raise.
The selectmen recommend 2.5 percent raises for the part-time deputy town clerk and the fire chief. The finance committee recommends 1.2 and 1.1 percent raises for the positions, respectively.
The selectmen recommend increasing each selectman’s annual stipend from $1,500 to $2,000, a $500 or 33.33 percent raise. The finance committee recommends keeping the stipends the same.
