PITTSFIELD -- Time to tighten the belt another notch.

The Town Council faced that reality this past week as its members took additional steps to slash expenses -- for this year and next -- amid nose-diving revenues from sources other than property taxes.

State revenue-sharing, for instance, has plunged $91,000 for Pittsfield, to a level that's "the lowest I've seen," said Town Manager Kathryn Ruth.

In response, the council approved a freeze on $164,132 in leftover capital money that, while typically transferred into reserve accounts at the end of the year, will instead be used to offset the revenue shortfalls. That will allow the current budget, in effect until Dec. 31, to stay as it is and avoid running a deficit.

Additionally, the council set a public hearing for Dec. 15 so that the town may exceed its property-tax levy limit, which is a state-set cap known as L.D. 1 based on the previous year's spending and growth. If the Town Council doesn't vote to surpass the cap, an estimated $180,000 would need to be axed from the 2010 budget, Ruth said.

"At this point, I don't see how this would be done without devastating services," Ruth said.

Councilors also voted to set a public hearing Dec. 15 for a new $3.8 million municipal budget proposal that's down $57,000, or 2 percent, over the current spending plan. The cuts in the 2010 budget, which kicks in Jan. 1, are all in operational expenses; spending on capital projects and equipment will stay the same.

"I'm really impressed people have been able to maintain services and spend less," Donna Chale, a councilor representing District 3, told town officials and department heads Tuesday night. "That's really incredible."

But it wasn't easy, town workers said. That difficulty was highlighted in several department budget reviews: one position was cut and spending on other services and equipment was scaled back.

The communications center at the Pittsfield Police Department, for instance, dropped a 25-hours-per-week clerical job to shave $16,856. Duties of that clerk have included processing paperwork for the police chief and summonses, filing finger-print cards and issuing fire permits. On-duty officers will do those tasks instead, Police Chief Stephen Emery told the council.

Cuts in next year's budget also revealed the strain put on municipal workers.

Don Chute, manager of the Transfer Station/Recycling Center off Peltoma Avenue, noted that uniform expenses for his four employees had been chopped in half, from $1,200 to $600, to purchase steel-toed boots, cold-weather coats and safety equipment.

"I know it's tough times ... but I'd really like to see them get their winter clothing," Chute said, noting that the employees will sometimes work long hours in below-zero temperatures. "My guys are tightening their belts and I sacrifice things every year, but it's important to keep my guys warm when they need it."

Ruth said spending the extra money on uniforms would not be a problem: the numbers on paper would stay the same, but Chute would be allowed to spend additionally for those items "he always comes $10,000 to $20,000 under expenses" at the end of the year.

"He already has money in his budget," Ruth told the council. "There's no issue here."

Scott Monroe -- 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com