FARMINGTON – Voters in SAD 9 towns will consider a proposed 2007-2008 school budget at their local polls on Tuesday.

The proposed budget reflects an increase of 3.4 percent on total spending and a 2.6 percent increase to local taxpayers, said Michael Cormier, SAD 9 superintendent.

The proposed budget of $23,766,097 reflects a $791,657 increase over the current budget of $22,984,440. State revenues will not cover the entire increase, according to the SAD 9 budget review newsletter.

Higher fuel and heating costs as well as contractual obligations to employees of the district are considered the cause for the increase, as stated in the newsletter. More than 78 percent of the district budget is allotted to salaries and benefits.

“The budget increase is less than the rate of inflation,” said Cormier. “The budget allows us to maintain current programming yet reduce the instructional staff by two-and-a-half positions. It’s certainly fiscally responsible,” he said.

The budget does contain $100,000 for architectural fees that will be reimbursed once the building projects are approved by voters. The projects, Mallett School and Mt. Blue High School/Foster Tech Center, have been approved by the state for future renovation or replacement. This item represents 12 percent of the total budget increase, Cormier said in the newsletter.

Some other adjustments in the budget include an increase by 25 percent for the firefighting program, an additional $10,000 added to the library budget for book updates and money to pay for the school resource teacher. Operations and plant maintenance reflect the largest increase. The school system has locked in a price of $2.10 a gallon for heating oil.

Voters will be given 13 questions on the ballot to approve the amount. The budget is set up by line items, Cormier said.