Proposed school budget would hike tax levy 2.9%

School district residents on May 16 will be asked to approve a $42.87 million 2017-18 budget carrying a 3.24 percent spending increase of $1.34 million.

Board of Education members Alan Barone and Heather Welch are running unopposed for re-election.

Voters will also be asked to approve a proposition to spend $750,000 for five 65-passenger buses and three 29-passenger vans. Officials estimate 59.1 percent of the cost would be reimbursed by the state.

Voting will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school at 320 Pancake Hollow Road.

Under the spending plan, there would be a $28.81 million property tax levy, a 2.9 percent increase of $756,209. The amount is exactly at the state limit for increases and will require approval from only a simple majority of voters.

Changes from the current spending plan would include:

• Operations of plant at $2.07 million, a 6.48 percent

increase of $126,082.

• Regular school teaching costs of $10.55 million, a 2.29 percent decrease of $246,990.

• Student programs at $5.43 million, a 6.05 percent

decrease of $349,713.

• Teacher retirement at $1.73 million, a 14.01 percent increase of $211,960.

• Social Security at $1.45 million, a 3.9 percent decrease of $58,884.

• Hospital and medical insurance at $7.5 million, a 4.81 percent decrease of $379,011.

• Debt service at $2.64 million, an 11.6 percent decrease of $346,148.