JAY – School and budget committee members will get an overview of a proposed $10.3 million school budget for fiscal 2009 on Monday.

Selectmen and Budget Committee members will begin review of a preliminary draft of the proposed municipal spending package of $6.1 million on March 17.

The school spending package is $488,862 more than the current budget but with more state revenue projected, decreased state valuation of the town and other factors considered, there would be less money needed from taxpayers.

The amount raised through property taxes for the 2007-08 school year was $8.3 million. Under the new proposal it would be $7.9 million, which means $336,351 less coming out taxpayers’ pockets, if projected revenues and the budget stay the same.

The review of the school spending plan is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday at the high school library.

On Monday, there will be a review of regular education accounts for school administration and all three schools as well as co-curricular and career and technical education.

On Wednesday, the review will be on transportation and buses, facilities and maintenance, special education, central office administration, debt service and other commitments and all other expenditures, including school lunch.

Superintendent Robert Wall said the budget includes preliminary state revenue figures but it won’t be until after March 31 that another projection of state revenues will be given to school systems.

“We will look at all the aspects of the budget,” Wall said of the two-day review, including additional salary and energy costs.

The package reflects a decrease to taxpayers but still allows the schools to run the way people would like to have them run, Wall said Friday.

On the municipal side, Town Manager Ruth Marden said the draft $6.1 million is up but that reflects both wants and needs that may not make it through the budget process.

About $2.6 million in revenue is anticipated to offset the budget and bring the net budget to $3.4 million, which is about $135,621 more than the current net budget of $3.3 million.

At 6 p.m. Monday, March 17, at the middle school cafeteria, selectmen and budget panel will begin review of budgets for police, highway and paving, fire, library, pulp and paper, and, if time allows, insurance, ambulance, donations, revenues.

The review will continue at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, at the middle school with budgets for sewer and sewer debt, town government, building and grounds, professional services, code enforcement, solid waste and recycling and recreation, and if time allows, Channel 7, snowmobile and all-terrain-vehicle clubs.