DIXFIELD – The SAD 21 board Monday overwhelmingly adopted a proposed 2007-08 operating budget that shows an increase of 1.75 percent over this year’s figure.

The $9,977,164 proposed budget will be acted upon at a town meeting-style election on June 11.

The board reached the final figure following a four-hour meeting, and because of retirements or attrition, eliminated just one staff member. That position is one of the three technology support people in the district.

Other positions were also eliminated in an effort to keep the budget down, but several people plan to retire at the end of the school year, and several others plan to leave for other jobs, said Superintendent Tom Ward. These positions are: two educational technicians and a special education teacher at Peru Elementary School, a reading specialist, fifth-grade teacher, and a special education technician. A full-time custodian position was reduced to half-time, and a business secretary position was eliminated.

“We’re fortunate to have the number of retirements and attrition. That has helped us,” Ward said.

He added that the board agreed to increase the athletic director’s stipend position at Dirigo Middle School to half time, and to increase the social worker from 40 percent to fulltime.

Other steps to increase revenues and lower the budget was the establishment of a district first: A $15 per student per sport participation fee, which is expected to raise about $10,000 annually, and a $1 increase in the cost of adult admission to sporting events, to $3.

The district’s student population, which dropped to just below 1,000 this spring, is expected to drop further next fall.

The board also approved a new three-year contract for teachers that shows an average salary raise of 3.5 percent during the first year, 4.3 percent during 2008-09 and 4.4 percent in 2009-10.

Ward said the numbers are only averages. The raises will likely range between 2 percent and 10 percent. The district is trying to bring all teachers up to the state-mandated starting salary of $30,000 a year.

The SAD 21 Teachers Association is slated to act on the numbers later this week.

If voters in the four-town district approve the proposed budget, Canton will see a 1.65 percent increase over last year’s share, Carthage will experience a 6 percent jump, Peru, a 3.78 percent increase, and Dixfield, a 2.29 percent decrease.

Ward said every year’s budget is lean.

“But this one we’ve really scrutinized to bring together a budget that covers our needs and the needs of our community, especially Peru and Carthage,” he said.

State valuation for the two towns increased 10 percent and 13.5 percent respectively during the past year while that of Canton remained fairly flat, and Dixfield’s declined.