LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen and Budget Committee members have had presentations from town department heads and are now charged with making recommendations for a budget for fiscal 2009.

Town Manager Martin Puckett gave an overview to both panels Monday. The budget stands at $2.7 million in department requests, which is about $227,642 more than this year, not factoring in anticipated revenues.

Puckett said he expects to see new revenue from new construction and renovations, which he anticipates will offset a declining state revenue projection of about $34,000. Town auditor Ron Smith also told selectmen Monday that the town’s surplus fund balance is healthy at $1.06 million, with $161,530 of it gained in 2007 from unspent funds and collecting more than the anticipated revenue. If the town uses that new revenue to offset taxes, it would be a one-time deal that Smith says won’t be replaced.

In order to come within the state spending cap $150,000 to $300,000 needs to be offset or cut from the spending plan, Puckett said. Those numbers are subject to change once valuation assessments are confirmed April 1.

An article could also be put on the June meeting warrant asking voters to exceed the spending cap.

The assessing agent may also recommend increasing valuations by a percentage across the board as previously done because property is still selling for more than the town values it, Puckett said.

The preliminary budget carries a request for a full-time fire chief at about $45,000, which selectboard Chairwoman Jackie Knight said Tuesday was needed in the town and past due. She is interested in input from people on the proposal before a decision is made.

It is the second year in a row that fire Chief Ken Jones has requested the fire chief position go-full time.

“The workload to the department’s chiefs has been overwhelming,” Jones said Tuesday.

They put many hours in after they’ve done their regular full-time job, and it is hard to get some things completed. The fire chief is paid $3,500 annually, Puckett said.

Increases in mandatory training, paperwork, testing, grant writing and other tasks are taking their toll. The department has brought in more than $500,000 in grants to buy equipment, gear and firetrucks during the past several years.

“There is only so much time in the day … and some things are not getting done,” he said.

Other items in the budget include higher costs for diesel and heating oil, snow removal, salt and sand. It also proposes budgeting for capital improvements, including setting up reserve funds for a new plow truck and cruiser and to buy a pickup truck for the Fire Department. Money is also in the budget for technology so people could register vehicles online.

Another item Puckett said he is looking at to offset increasing energy costs is moving to four 10- hour work days instead of working five days.

He also said he plans to research other sources of revenue instead of relying so heavily on personal property taxes and homeowners.

A budget needs to be finalized in early April so the warrant could be posted by April 14. A public hearing is set on the warrant articles Tuesday, April 22. Absentee ballots will be available May 9, and the vote on the budget is from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the town office.