OTISFIELD – Although residents in this community face the highest assessment increase in the 2004-2005 proposed $30.5 million school budget, they had little to say during a budget presentation Tuesday night.

A 16.97 percent increase in property values plus a 2.82 percent increase in enrollment, amounts to a 5 percent increase in the town assessment for Otisfield.

Superintendent Mark Eastman said even if the budget had no jump, Otisfield would realize the 5 percent hike due to those increases. The current assessment for Otisfield is $1.3 million and under the proposed budget that would increase to $1.4 million, a 9.92 percent increase.

Harrison has the second highest increase of 6.74 percent.

The budget shows a 4.67 percent increase in local assessments, from $13,122,864 to $13,736,356, and a 2.28 percent overall budget increase.

In the budget overview, Eastman noted many small items are being cut, such as supplies, textbooks and equipment. Cuts also include the delay of many repair and maintenance projects and reducing teaching positions due to restructuring.

“You have to cut a lot of small things to save big amounts,” Eastman said.

Decreases in the proposed budget include delaying the purchase of one bus.

They also include a $55,000 cut slated to replace computers at the high school. Eastman said this cut is in anticipation the Legislature will approve funding for laptop computers for high school students.

Selectman Lenny Adler asked if the district accepts tuition students.

Eastman explained they are accepted on a space-available basis. He noted Waterford elementary school has a few students from Albany Township and the district gets state subsidies for those students. Students outside the school district can attend classes in SAD 17 for $6,000 in annual tuition, he said, noting the district gets about five requests annually.

Information gathered at school budget workshops scheduled to end this week will be considered by the Budget Committee, which is slated to finalize the budget by April 28.

The School Board is scheduled to finalize the budget on May 3. A district budget hearing is scheduled May 25 followed by a referendum June 8.