The Board of Assessors was forced to take a $3,000 pay cut at Town Meeting following a recommendation from the Finance Committee.

On Monday, voters decided the three assessors should be paid $7,000 per year for their work, not the $10,000 board members had suggested.

Assessors list and value property in town, including real estate and motor vehicles. Board of Assessors Chair John Mello said his board catalogs $900 million worth of property.

“We’re one of the last remaining ‘hands-on’ Board of Assessors in eastern Massachusetts,” Mello said. “We actually do the work. We’re happy to do it. We just want to be compensated for it.”

The town is in the process of hiring a full-time assistant assessor to be paid $72,000. Finance Committee Chairman Chris Stoltenberg said the new position equates to an additional 900 hours, which should relieve assessors of some duties.

Stoltenberg said the move ended a “confusing” policy where the assessors paid themselves for hours worked above and beyond their duties as elected officials. Assessors paid themselves for the work from a stipend account worth $8,000.

“The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has said that is not allowed. As a Finance Committee we had to ask how does one differentiate from elected duties and other duties,” Stoltenberg said. “Our intent to fund a full-time agent was to put an end to this confusing policy.”

Mello and fellow assessors argued that the town faces a recertification from the state this year. The eight-month process will reevaluate the town’s worth as assessors and Department of Revenue officials work together.

“Assessors will be in Town Hall Saturdays, Sundays, nights and holidays working with the new assistant assessor on the recertification process,” Mello said.

Stoltenberg said Rochester’s situation was an anomaly on the South Coast. Generally, elected assessors earn $3,000 to $4,500 per year. Even with the pay cut Rochester assessors will earn more than their peers.

Voters agreed and overwhelmingly defeated Mello’s motion to increase the board’s pay.