The proposed second school resource officer that Watertown City School District officials sought to patrol middle school halls has been cut from the city's 2008-09 budget.

City lawmakers said they were unhappy with the proposed budget's 5.7 percent levy increase. Putting a freeze on all new positions — the resource officer is the only new position proposed — would help stem spending.

The council also reviewed the budgets for the Flower Memorial Library, information technology department and police and fire budgets at the Monday night work session.

The proposed budget now stands at $37.5 million, a 2.2 percent increase from the $36.7 million budgeted this year.

The resource officer would have cost the city about $20,000 and the school district $55,000 during the upcoming fiscal year.

The city and school district already have a similar agreement for a resource officer who patrols the high school. The proposed officer would have covered Case Middle and H.T. Wiley Intermediate schools.

Councilmen Peter L. Clough, Jeffrey M. Smith, Councilwoman Roxanne M. Burns and Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham all agreed not to fund the officer. Councilman Joseph M. Butler Jr. said he was in favor of the proposal.

"I'd rather spend the $20,000 to make the kids safer," he said. "I'll forgo other things before I give that up. The public has had more interest in the SRO than any other topic that's come before us."

Mr. Clough has said that while the $20,000 line item appeared innocuous, costs for retirement over the years could equate to much larger costs for the city. He suggested at previous meetings that a private security firm be hired to patrol the schools.

Mr. Smith suggested that one of the four officers hired for the current fiscal year be considered for the resource officer position.

Police Chief Joseph J. Goss said taking an officer from the street to put in the school would force officers to work overtime.

"I can't keep overtime down when I don't have a full platoon going on the A, B and C shifts," he said. "We'll hopefully look at the SRO for next year."

The council also cut the funding proposed for the police department's overtime from $300,000 to $275,000, an 8.3 percent decrease.

The council will meet at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall to discuss other department budgets.