FARMINGTON — Franklin County Budget Committee Chairman John Calloway asked members Thursday if next year they would make cuts in each category rather than each line. Their response was no.

Committeeman D. Scott Taylor of Wilton said they hear complaints from residents that are line specific.

Tim DeMillo of Jay said the committee has to make reductions in lines.

“We have to represent the people,” he said.

It’s the committee’s responsibility is to look at the county budget thoroughly and make recommendations on spending, Ryan Morgan of Farmington said.

“We are elected by the citizens,” he said.

The nine committee members are selectmen elected at a county caucus to represent the three county commission districts.

Several members said they hear complaints about county government and consider them when making budget decisions.

At issue is the committee’s decision this year to cut commissioners’ benefits. The three commissioners will receive between $8,000 and $8,500 for 2012-13, plus 35 percent of that amount to use toward health insurance, retirement and life insurance. In past years, the benefit was 70 percent of their stipend.

The cut was made after a Jay resident questioned the commissioners’ salary and benefit package during a public hearing on the budget.

Commission Chairman Gary McGrane of Jay said June 19 that the committee’s charge is to look at the budget commissioners recommend as a whole and not go line by line. He said when it starts determining who gets benefits and who doesn’t, it’s setting policy for the county and micromanaging.

Commissioners do have legislative authority to set pay, according to county Clerk Julie Magoon, who read the law to commissioners June 19.

At the June 19 meeting, Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong said commissioners and selectmen are different.

At Thursday’s meeting, Committeeman Terry Brann agreed with Barker’s earlier statement.

“We get a stipend and no benefits,” he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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