BETHEL – SAD 44 directors and the budget committee made progress this week on the fiscal 2005 budget but still have two meetings to go before a vote to approve it takes place.

Superintendent David Murphy said a special board meeting is set for 7:30 p.m., Monday in the Telstar High School library to continue fine tuning the proposal.

The final vote to approve the budget is planned for the next regular board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 10. That meeting will be held at the Andover Elementary School.

“Right now it looks like we will have a small increase,” Murphy said, “but I think we can hold the increase to between 4.5 and 5 percent. We started out thinking it would have to be around 5.5 percent, but as we continue to look at all areas closely it looks like we can cut a few more items and still keep high standards of educational quality for our students.”

He said, “By holding a special meeting next Monday to have another look at each area of the budget I think we’ll be ready for a final vote to approve on May 10.”

A public budget hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 24 at Telstar High School. The budget referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8. Polls will be open in the district towns of Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock.