Elected officials salaries cut to save full-time position

LAKEVILLE -- Lakeville Town Meeting voters approved cutting the salaries of elected town officials to restore the full-time assistant treasurer-collector position.

The salary cuts were proposed by former select board member Brian Day at the June 8 meeting.

By cutting these salaries, the assistant treasurer-collector position would restored to full-time at a salary of about $72,000.

The hours for that post had been reduced roughly in half and benefits had been cut in an effort to save money. 

Day said he understands the work and commitment town board members undertake, but that in a tough financial time, “elected officials should be willing to sacrifice.’’

Reducing their payments would make a “small but meaningful difference,’’ Day noted.

Day proposed cutting the select board salaries from $4,995 for the chair and $4,500 for other members to $53 for the chair and $52 for other members.

Board of Assessors and Board of Health salaries would drop from $2,000 for the chair and $1,500 to the other two members to $53 for the chair and $52 for other members.

This change was the only alteration to the budget that was approved by Town Meeting voters.