WEST WARWICK — In a budget workshop last night, the Town Council fine-tuned cuts it made in recent weeks to a prospective budget for fiscal 2009.

Given the cuts the council had made so far, the prospective budget for the year that begins July 1 stands at about $79.3 million. At that level, the council estimates it will have nearly $35,000 more than it needs on the revenue side.

Last night, the council trimmed an additional $15,000 from the West Warwick Civic Center budget, targeting part-time maintenance. The town currently has a crew that assists in maintenance, but that line item — originally budgeted for $30,000 — also covers a specialty worker at the ice rink. The municipal workers union has offered to absorb that work to save money for the town.

Also, banking on concessions from the municipal union in coming negotiations as well as on prospective extra revenue, it added nearly $220,000 for contingencies such as emergency road work and other capital projects and pension expenses.

The council recently eliminated $25,000 for the SWAT team, which is operated in partnership between the West Warwick and Coventry police departments. Last night it restored $15,000 for the team. Council members called for easing the proportionate burden on West Warwick, which provides 13 officers for the team to Coventry’s 7.

As the council discussed restructuring the position of the director of parks and recreation — which was saved from the cutting board at a recent meeting — the conversation turned to Finance Director Malcolm Moore’s comfort level in taking over the duties of the tax collector, Diane DeRuosi.

At a recent meeting, the council proposed eliminating the tax collector position for a savings of $62,335 in the coming fiscal year. But Moore later reported that, with benefits and severance pay, the actual savings would be closer to $2,400. Moore and DeRuosi, whose position would be eliminated, proposed keeping her on for an additional year, after which she would retire. That idea was not accepted, so the only transition period for Moore will be from now until the end of the fiscal year, on June 30.

“Are you ready to step up to the plate to do what needs to be done?” Town Council President Edward A. Giroux asked Moore last night.

“Yes, I will,” Moore replied.

Council member David Gosselin, who expressed concern at Moore’s seeming lack of confidence when the idea was broached a few meetings ago, said, “You’re on record saying you can do it.”

The council has scheduled a meeting for 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, to adopt a budget for presentation at the Financial Town Meeting, to be held May 20.

tbuford@projo.com