MEXICO – The Region 9 board has reduced fiscal 2009 budget requests to just under $1.9 million, and chances are they aren’t done yet.

The board will continue work on the budget at a regular meeting on April 8, then again after two public hearings are completed. Those are set for 6 p.m. on April 14 at Telstar High School in Bethel and at 7:30 p.m. at the Region 9 school in Mexico.

Voters in the 16-town vocational region will act on the final figure at a May town meeting-style budget vote.

Director Brenda Gammon said Tuesday’s board decision to eliminate the cooperative education program and to reduce the diversified occupations programs by one educational technician cut $91,000 from the budget. That covers salaries, benefits and program costs.

The board also cut 10 percent from supply lines for each vocational program, banned purchase of any new equipment, and eliminated a request by the truck driving program to buy a tractor-trailer truck cab.

This year’s budget is just under $1.3 million. The higher proposed budget is the result of a $4.9 million building and renovation project, the introduction of two new vocational programs and salary and benefit costs.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Tiffany Santy, Rumford, Region 9’s former part-time adult education teacher, was appointed full-time adult education teacher. Peru resident Eric Horn was appointed part-time adult education teacher.