Marilla employees will get 3 percent pay raises in 2010, despite an effort by a Town Board member to eliminate the increases.

Councilman Daniel G. Handy had argued that the raises were unnecessary, noting that the cost of living was not increasing because of the state of the economy. He said that town workers do a great job but that even Social Security will not provide cost-of-living increases in January.

Handy acknowledged that he did not have the votes to eliminate the increases after Supervisor George J. Gertz, Councilwoman Barbara A. Spanitz and Councilman Warren K. Handley defended them. Spanitz said that it would be difficult to eliminate pay raises when the town has a fund balance of $2.1 million.

In another matter, the board adjusted the 2010 budget to reflect changes to revenues and appropriations.

The revenue line for sales tax has been decreased by $60,000, and the appropriations lines for costs such as heath care, retirement fund contributions and attorney costs for negotiations have been increased by $33,000.

The $60,000 for sales tax will be offset by a transfer from the town’s fund balance. The appropriations lines will be adjusted to reflect the increases.

There will be no effect on the tax rate, since the general fund has no levy.