The Edgecomb selectmen began preliminary discussions about the municipal budget’s goals and objectives on Feb. 23 with an expectation of reducing spending.

Selectman Jessica Chubbuck started the discussion by asking: “What do you think the chances are for a reduction? Or do you think I’m just reaching for the stars?”

In 2014, Edgecomb voters approved a $3.57 million budget.

Selectman Stuart Smith believed the goal was achievable, but two outside factors would be substantial obstacles.

Smith cited the school and county budgets as major impediments in achieving a flat or reduced budget. In 2014, the $2.48 million school budget accounted for 69.4 percent of municipal spending. In 2014, Edgecomb paid $250,315 in county taxes, which accounted for 7 percent of spending.

Smith said recent comments made by the superintendent of schools and other school officials leads him to believe there is room in the school budget for reductions.

“The 400-pound gorilla in the room is the school budget,” Smith said. “Everything I’ve heard this year says there’s an excellent chance. If we had a better idea of what goes into each line item, I think we can justify it.”

The county budget is one cost Edgecomb can’t reduce. Smith is a member of the County Budget Advisory Committee. In September, the committee recommended several items items for elimination or reduction. But the committee’s recommendations failed to persuade the commissioners.

“We tried to reduce the county budget, but the commissioners restored all the original spending requests,” Smith said. “We tried to reduce the county spending, but it didn’t happen.”

The selectmen have their own challenges in keeping their municipal operating budget flat. The season’s heavy snowfall is rapidly diminishing the sand and salt budget. And Fire Chief Roy Potter expressed concerns about the station being plowed in a timely manner.

During a recent storm, the snow piled up so fast fast that it forced Potter to hire someone to remove it from the station’s lot.

“It cost $200 and I don’t have that in the budget,” Potter said.

Smith recommended the town have a contingency fund to pay for such unexpected expenditures. He said several other local towns had contingency funds.

“This is something the town has never gone for, but it now might be the time,” Smith said.

Potter urged the board to renegotiate the snow plow contract with Road Commissioner Scott Griffin to include a provision for plowing the fire station. The contract is negotiated on an annual basis.

The selectmen also considered eliminating some minor town expenditures. The board discussed eliminating pay for a recording secretary to take minutes during the ordinance review committee meetings. The selectmen believed the minutes aren’t necessary because its an advisory committee and reports back to the selectmen.

The Edgecomb Budget Committee held its first meeting on March 2.

In other action, the board appointed David Nutt to fill an unexpired term on the Schmid Land Preservation Advisory Committee. The selectmen also appointed Brian Main to the Shellfish Committee.

The selectmen will next meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 9 in the municipal building.