BUCKFIELD – Superintendent Tom Ward told about two dozen residents from Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner on Monday night how each town will be affected by the new Western Foothills School District budget.

On Tuesday, June 9, the 12 towns in the district, also known as Regional School Unit 10, will vote on a $31,128,624 spending plan for 2009-10. The district is a consolidation of SADs 39 in Buckfield, 21 in Dixfield and 43 in Rumford.

Buckfield’s share is $46,000 more than last year, Sumner’s is $64,365 more, and Hartford’s is $68,294 more. However, taxpayers won’t see an increase because close to $700,000 from the three towns is being carried over from this year to next, Ward said.

He said school costs are based 75 percent on state valuations of the towns and 25 percent on student enrollment.

Ward said approximate savings from consolidation for 2009-10 is $617,581.

One major cost for next year will be bringing the SAD 39 teachers’ pay scale up of those in SAD 21. Ward said the expense is $150,000.

He indicated next year’s budget may require more staff cuts and officials had to start projecting what jobs would be lost and prepare those affected.

Judy Berg asked about the affect of federal stimulus money.

Ward said the funds would cover a lot of the cost of such things as computer hardware and software, and education technicians and other staff positions.