SABATTUS – Because work on Sabattus Elementary School is proving more costly than expected, the state has agreed to give the town an additional $18,450.

Sabattus is building a school for students in grades three through eight and renovating its elementary school for kindergarten through grade two. Although the new school is on schedule and on budget, bids for the renovation project came back higher than expected.

According to State Board of Education documents, school officials have tried to lower expenses by trimming the project. But costs still proved too high.

To help pay for the higher costs locally, the town will use $270,000 approved by voters for the 2004 and 2005 budgets. It asked the state for an additional $18,450 to pay for a sprinkler system.

The State Board of Education agreed Wednesday. The money will come from the Revolving Renovation Fund.

The entire project, including new school construction and old school renovation, will cost about $9.4 million.