BOX:

What: RSU 9 budget presentation

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7

Where: Mt. Blue Middle School cafeteria.

FARMINGTON — The $25.4 million budget proposed for Regional School Unit 9 in 2011-12 is up 15 percent over this year.

Under the proposal, the impact on taxpayers would be about a $40 increase on a property valued at $100,000, Superintendent Michael Cormier said Tuesday during his presentation before the school board, selectmen, employees and community members.

He said the day-to-day operating costs are expected to increase by less than 1 percent, or $184,000, over 2010-11. And when $3.2 million in debt service for two new schools is included, even though 95 percent is funded by a state bond approved by voters several years ago, the budget jumps by 15 percent to $25.4 million.

If the budget is approved by voters in a referendum June 1, it would result in a $521,000 increase in local school taxes divided among Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton.

A big chunk of that increase is $145,000 for the first debt payment on the two new school projects approved by district voters.

The local school tax also includes increases in fixed costs such as negotiated salaries, fuel and health insurance.

The first public hearing on the budget will be 7 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria at Mt. Blue Middle School on Middle Street. Copies of the budget and a breakdown of the $577,000 in proposed cuts are available at the RSU 9 office at Mt. Blue Middle School.

“The Budget Committee and district administrators worked on developing a budget by looking at the current staff and program offerings and … would keep everything whole,” Cormier wrote in his report.

The Budget Committee initially faced a potential increase to local taxpayers of $1.1 million but pared that down by more than 50 percent.

“That amount just couldn’t be supported in this economic climate,” Cormier said.

The district also expects to lose $416,000 in state subsidy — an improvement over the earlier projected loss of $930,000 due to spiking property valuation and declining enrollment.

Enrollment has since leveled off and Gov. Paul LePage has increased school aid by $22 million, Cormier said.

The district lost $1.6 million for the 2010-11 school year.

“For the past three years, our property valuations have been growing at three times the state average, so our towns are having to pay more,” Cormier said.

The state valuation is based on property sales, and the biggest jumps in valuation are in Industry, New Vineyard, Chesterville and New Sharon, according to state data.

He pointed out that out of 108 school districts in Maine, 73 percent spend more per student that RSU 9.

Among the budget highlights:

* Adding a kindergarten teacher at Mallett School by shifting one from Cascade Brook School to address a jump in kindergarten enrollment and a teacher would be moved to Cape Cod Hill School, also due to large class size.

* Cutting 1.5 teaching positions at Mt. Blue High School, making one making math, one foreign language and one social studies position half time.

* Cutting some classroom supplies and textbooks, while music supplies and instrument repairs cut from last year’s budget would be reinstated.

* Making prekindergarten programs all-day to reduce the cost of midday transportation.

* Freezing wages for support staff, part of an agreement with district employees who, over a two-year budget period, have agreed to one year without any salary or wage increase.

* Eliminating one of two wrestling coaches at Mt. Blue Middle School.

* Cutting about $30,000 in administration and the board of directors.

* Reducing hours and benefits for some support staff.

No decision has been made on contracting for custodial and transportation services, one of many money-saving suggestions made by staff and community that the Budget Committee considered.

Bids to private companies have gone out and will be opened at the board’s April 12 meeting. There has been concern the change would cut jobs of local people with supportive relationships with children in return for limited monetary savings.