Giving voice to what has long been a source of tension during budget season, Oak Bluffs selectmen on Tuesday held a sometimes lively discussion with the finance and advisory board over their differing views on the budgets of the town police department, elementary school and regional high school.

The finance committee had asked all town departments to level fund this year, meaning they submit budget requests with a zero increase over the current year. All town departments were more or less able to achieve level funding, except for the police department, Oak Bluffs school, and the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Largely because of increased salaries negotiated through collective bargaining agreements, all three departments submitted budgets calling for an increase in spending. The police department is seeking an increase of around $34,000, or 2.2 per cent, while the Oak Bluffs School is seeking an increase of around $109,000, a 1.85 per cent increase over the current budget.

The assessment for the regional high school is approximately $200,000, or 6.4 per cent more than the current budget, although the finance committee is seeking a reduction of around $60,000. The finance committee would ask that the portions of the three budgets that are more than the current budget be placed instead on an override during the town-wide election, which would give voters more control over the town finances.

Finance committee chairman Thad Harshbarger on Tuesday noted the town highway department has volunteered to give up around $200,000 for road repairs this year in order to achieve level funding. Mr. Harshbarger questioned whether it was fair for three departments to ask for increases when most other departments were making such sacrifices.

“We looked at the overall numbers, and it showed that most departments are holding steady, and in some cases decreasing their budgets . . . we thought it would be a bad idea to reduce funding for things like [road repairs], because once that money goes from the highway department it isn’t coming back,” Mr. Harshbarger said.

He continued: “Part of the frustration is that year after year the schools come back and say they need more money to do their basic job.”

Finance committee member Peter Palches picked up the theme.

“All the departments have managed to level fund. But when you brought in [high school principal] Stephen Nixon and [Oak Bluffs principal] Laury Binney, they said ‘No, this is as low as we can go, it’s for the children,’” Mr. Palches said. “It doesn’t seem like a fair fight.”

Selectman Gregory Coogan disagreed.

“I think it’s a bad choice of words to use ‘fight’ when we are talking about our children,” Mr. Coogan said. “I do value children more than concrete . . . it’s one thing to cut costs when we are talking about goods; it’s different when we’re talking about our students.”

Mr. Harshbarger argued that selectmen were focusing on emotional issues instead of equitable financing for all town departments.

“I’m getting a sense of flag waving here, and it’s making me uncomfortable,” he said. “It’s not a matter of concrete versus children, it’s about cutting costs and saving money . . . and using the example of a child, that does not further a rationale conversation. We have simply recommended the schools come in with level funding because we think it is a reasonable expectation for them and the other departments.”

In the end, the finance committee and selectmen agreed to disagree.

Selectmen voted unanimously to ratify the $24 million budget without overrides for the two schools and the police department, while the finance committee was scheduled to meet yesterday to finalize their recommendation for voters during the upcoming town election. The recommendation from the finance committee will be printed on the town meeting warrant.