> As the person doing the hiring that kind of incentives me to strive for a lower salary, at least for that first year

That's a very bad way to look at it. If you think recruiters are too expensive don't use them, but I suspect it makes no difference to you as hiring manager as that was previously approved and budgeted, and low-balling a candidate is not the best way to start a relationship or to attract the best.

I assume you kept reading, and didn't stop at that quote to come tell OP how terrible they are?

> I'm not going to do that since we aren't in diar straits, the offer will be appropriate for the role and industry comps