West Tisbury selectmen voted Wednesday night to put a general tax override before voters at April’s town meeting rather than presenting specific items in the override to the town individually.

“I think it’s a good year to do that because there doesn’t appear to be a lot of disagreement,” said selectman Cynthia Mitchell. “I think it’s the right year.” She noted the town’s finance committee has been approving department budgets as they come.

The override currently totals $409,000. If the town votes against funding the tax collector’s salary since the town has plans to consolidate that position, that will save almost $70,000, reducing the override somewhat.

Town accountant Bruce Stone said 63 per cent of the entire budget is made up of funding requests from entities outside the town, such as the up-Island regional school district, the tri-town ambulance, and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. He said those assessments accounted for 68 per cent of the increases this year. Other sources of increases are employee retiree health benefits and building maintenance costs.

“We don’t have a lot of flexibility,” he said.

Selectmen began discussion of the override issue at last week’s meeting. They weighed how best to communicate intricate budget quirks and needs to the public. Selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd countered that the town might be more inclined to pay for specific individual items rather than a general override.

Mr. Manter was still a bit uneasy about presenting a general override since it would be an all or nothing proposition.

“In the event that it fails, how do we cut $400,000 from our operating budget?” he said.

Ms. Mitchell emphasized the need to educate the public about why the override is necessary and why the budget is responsible. Selectmen also discussed scheduling a follow-up special town meeting before the end of the fiscal year to reconsider the budget in the event it doesn’t pass. There was some concern about attendance at a second meeting. West Tisbury’s quorum for town meeting is five per cent of eligible voters, or about 120 people.

If the override fails, voters may be asked to rescind some warrant articles to stretch the budget. Town administrator Jennifer Rand said they would have to go back to individual departments and ask for collaborative cuts to make it work.

This is the first time since 2004 that the town has voted on a proposition 2 ½ override at town meeting. At the meeting, the town’s total budget for fiscal year 2019 was estimated to be $18,857,547. Last year’s budget was $18,396,389.

The West Tisbury annual town meeting is April 10.

In other business, selectmen set a date for a public hearing on taxi meters. The meeting will take place March 7. Selectmen also authorized town administrator Jennifer Rand to draft a letter describing West Tisbury residents’ concerns about the use of pesticides by Eversource energy company. There will be a public hearing on the issue March 1 in Sandwich.