SABATTUS – Voters at this year’s annual town meeting in Sabattus will have 53 articles to consider, including what has become a controversial and heated debate about school funding.

The meeting will be held at Sabattus Central School on Ballpark Road starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 19.

Selectmen and Budget Committee members agreed in their recommendations on all but seven of the articles.

School board members have requested a total operating budget of $6,070,431 for the next year. Selectmen and budget committee members, however, recommend paring that allocation to $5,501,158, a difference of $569,273.

The item of contention is Article 50, which asks voters how much money should be raised, in addition to the minimum needed to fund essential services and programs, to benefit local students.

While selectmen and budget committee members recommend only $163,025 in extra local funds be raised, school committee members requested an extra $732,298. They say the extra money will maintain low student-to-teacher ratios, will cover higher electricity and fuel costs, and lets Sabattus spend more on extra-curricular and technology issues.

Without the extra money, school committee members worry that some sports, music and other programs will have to be cut.

Town officials worry that asking residents to come up with an extra half million dollars would cut too deeply into household budgets.

Similarly, Article 48 asks taxpayers how much they will contribute as the town’s share of K-8 education in School Union 44. School committee members have requested $1,071,629.33; selectmen and budget committee members recommend $1,062,011.

Other items for consideration include how much the town will earmark for maintenance of the town office, funding for the county’s Emergency Management Agency, and how much to place in escrow for the fire department’s equipment replacement account.