OXFORD – SAD 17 directors have approved a $35.4 million fiscal 2008 school budget, paving the way for public reaction at a districtwide budget hearing later this month and a referendum vote on June 12.

“This is a responsible budget and it’s a fair budget,” Superintendent Mark Eastman told the directors at Monday night’s meeting. “We’re sensitive to the issues taxpayers are feeling.”

While the state ultimately only provided the district with 93 percent, rather than the anticipated fully-funded 95 percent under its new funding formula, Eastman said programs were maintained and even a few added for the next school year. Under the state’s goal to contribute 55 percent of local education costs by 2009, SAD 17 should be funded at 95 percent in the third year of the state’s Essential Programs and Services funding formula. The drop to 93 percent cost the district about $200,000 in anticipated funds.

Despite the loss, Eastman said the proposed budget will pay for all-day kindergarten to continue in its second year, the addition of a gifted and talented program, expansion of the foreign language program in the elementary schools along with addressing other needs.

In developing the budget the district saw savings in the health insurance budget line item that came in up 8.8 percent instead of the 15 percent projected increase. Electricity and fuel consumption was down from last year by 20 percent, but rising energy costs could ultimately override that savings, Eastman said. Other savings came from the relocation of the Madison Avenue School and Fox Elementary School to one new school – Paris Elementary School.

Eight public hearings in each of the district towns were held during the last few weeks, but Eastman told the board that they were not well attended.

The districtwide public hearing will be held at 7 p.m., May 29, at the Oxford High Comprehensive High School in Paris.