By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Both schools and taxpayers will see more money next year if the Lewiston school superintendent gets his budget.

In a meeting with the School Committee on Wednesday, Superintendent Leon Levesque proposed a $38.8 million budget for next year, up nearly $2 million, or 5.4 percent, over this year. The additional funding would pay for contracted salary increases, full-day kindergarten for all elementary schools and programs for students who need additional help meeting standards. It would also pay for more special education and English as a Second Language staff. Those programs have seen an enrollment increase and must meet strict student-teacher ratios.

Since Lewiston is expected to get about $3.4 million in additional state aid next year, Levesque also proposed a $1.1 million property tax break. According to the city’s finance director, that $1.1 million could lower the city’s $27.70 property tax rate by 76 cents. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would save $76 a year.

While the governor’s recently passed tax relief package will require some school systems to offset increased state aid by lowering the amount local taxpayers contribute, Lewiston did not have that requirement. According to Department of Education officials, school systems must offer tax relief only if they are spending enough on essential programs and services. According to the state, Lewiston underspends by millions of dollars.

Levesque, however, said he tried to strike a balance between the needs of the schools and the needs of taxpayers when he created his budget.

“People are expecting some relief,” he said.

Levesque’s proposal does not include money for laptops at the high school. He said he didn’t want to presume what the school’s technological needs were and didn’t want to ignore teacher recommendations. A high school committee is currently looking at the issue and is expected to report to the School Committee this spring. The high school group could recommend that Lewiston expand the state’s middle school laptop program and provide portable computers to all freshmen, sophomores and their teachers, which could cost more than $250,000. Or it could recommend the purchase of other technology, such as desktop computers and PDAs.

The School Committee would have to decide whether to add that technology into the superintendent’s $38.8 million proposal.

The School Committee will spend the next several weeks reviewing the superintendent’s proposal. They are expected to vote on a budget at the end of March.

After a budget is approved by the School Committee, it must go to the City Council for consideration.