DIXFIELD – Selectmen shaved almost $29,000 more from the proposed 2009-10 operating budget Monday, reaching their goal of no spending increase for the coming fiscal year.

It stands at $1,892,351, compared to $1,902,208 this year.

The Finance Committee will have one last chance to make recommendations at a meeting Tuesday night.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said selectmen cut all social service requests in half, except $175 requested by a veterans’ group. The total reduction was $8,949.

Also eliminated was $29,750 for a fifth public works employee to mow the town’s half-dozen cemeteries and do other projects.

Instead, Skibitsky said $10,000 was added to the grounds department to hire a contractor to do the mowing.

The budget has no salary increases for town employees.

The school district is working on a budget that would be at or below the current spending level.

Residents will vote on the municipal budget at the annual town meeting at 6 p.m. May 28 at Dirigo Middle School. They may choose to approve the selectmen’s recommended figure, the Finance Committee’s recommendation, or some other amount for each account.