Deerfield Finance Committee approves school and highway budgets, advances town meeting warrant

DEERFIELD — April 9, 2025 — Deerfield Finance Committee unanimously approves $10.9 million in school and highway line items and advances a 22-article town meeting warrant. The committee voted to recommend the general highway payroll at $731,968, incorporating a new superintendent salary, a step-six mechanic at $30 per hour, and 240 overtime hours per employee following a heavy-demand year in which Superintendent Matt assumed duties amid a retirement and a staffing gap. The Deerfield Elementary School budget was set at $5,501,517 and the Frontier Regional School assessment at $4,551,984, with transportation at $122,280 — a nearly 29 percent single-line increase that, combined with the operating figure, reflects a 4.51 percent overall increase for Deerfield. Community Preservation Committee recommendations totaling $460,000, including $200,000 for the Deerfield Elementary playground, cleared the committee unanimously. A motion to not recommend Article 22, which would endorse lowering the local voting age to 16, passed 3-1-1, with members citing dual-ballot administrative costs; three Union 38 towns have already voted yes on the same petition.