BETHEL — The SAD 44 Finance Committee unveiled its preliminary 2011-12 operating budget this week, and it shows a 4 percent increase over this year.

There could be changes due to several factors, including another look at the possibility of closing Andover Elementary School, and a greater than expected increase in costs for sending vocational students to the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico.

The preliminary budget stands at $9.5 million. That figure does not include about $71,000 for the district’s adult and community education program.

Superintendent David Murphy said the goal of the board is to balance the impact of any budget increases between reductions in school costs and property tax increases.

Among the reductions made to reach the $9.5 figure are $120,000 from the costs to operate Woodstock Elementary School, $15,000 for teacher retirements, staffing reductions to be determined next month of about $50,000, and moving the central office from the former Ethel Bisbee School to space at Norway Savings Bank at an annual savings of about $20,000.

Increases to an otherwise flat budget were prompted by substantially higher costs for gasoline, diesel and heating oil, at about $143,000. Salary and benefit hikes for employees account for about $247,000 more.

A couple of hundred thousand dollars could be saved by closing the Andover school. On the flip side, a higher number of Telstar High School students who attend one of the vocational programs at Region 9 has caused a possible hike of about $100,000.

The district has lost federal stimulus money for the next school year, but is expecting slightly more state aid next year than it received this year.

If a $9.5 million budget is approved by voters, member towns would see the following changes to their share of the school budget:

Andover down about $24,000; Bethel up just over $31,000; Greenwood up $23,000; Newry up nearly $267,000; and Woodstock up $15,000.

The Finance Committee is expected to meet at least once between now and the April 11 board meeting to continue work on a final spending plan.

Public hearings on the budget will be held in May, and then it goes to voters June 14.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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