With the town's $2.9 million budget deficit as the backdrop, Selectmen made it clear they would not pursue a Proposition 2 - 1/2 override without continued cuts and consolidation of services.

"To seek an override without showing the taxpayers you've done everything to make what you have as efficient as possible first makes it extremely difficult to convince people to give you more money," said Selectman Peter Teitelbaum at Tuesday's meeting.

Last Tuesday, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan presented the proposed fiscal year 2015 budget for the town that included a $2.9 million gap between revenues and expenditures.

The next day the Finance Committee met and suggested budget cuts combined with Proposition 2 - 1/2 override -- which would allow the town to assess taxes above the annual allowable 2.5 percent increase.

"In order to vote for an operational override we first need to see what will and what wont be added to the balanced budget. We also need a detailed lists of changes to be made by all departments to decrease costs and increase efficiency," said Selectman Alan Slavin.

Slavin brought up a number of possible cost-saving measures. He mentioned the hard choices that will be made in terms of the library and the Council on Aging budgets and he said Sullivan has been talking for months about a four-day week at town hall.

On the school side, he said some towns no longer offer free athletic programs - kids who want to play would have to pay.

"We need to think about things that are realistic for what we actually have in revenue. We can't sit there and go ahead and keep saying, 'well something will happen' - nothing's happening," Slavin said.

Selectmen Judith Whiteside and Stephen Holmes agreed there are cost saving measures on the school side of the town budget.

"I strongly urge [Sullivan[ to continue his discussions with the school department and continue to look for consolidations of services and of personnel in order to reduce the deficit we have," Whiteside said.

Holmes said both the town and the school department have maintenance departments, both employ snow plow drivers, and simple consolidations can be made.

"It doesn't get you to [$2.9 million] but you have to make an effort," he said. "In order to present an override to the voters, you need to make these consolidations happen."

Holmes also brought up the goal of $500,000 in budget cuts the board agreed to make for fiscal year 2014. In December, the board agreed to the cuts based on a recommendation from the state Department of Revenue.

To date, Sullivan has been able to cut $251,000 from the town side but no cuts have come from the school department, which Sullivan said accounts for roughly 63 percent of the town budget.

Sullivan said Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood was scheduled to present something on the subject to the School Committee on Wednesday.