POLAND — The public informational meeting Wednesday on RSU 16’s proposed budget for 2012-13 drew few members of the public and fewer questions.

Perhaps 20 area residents listened to interim Superintendent Michael Wilhelm’s presentation of the $18.5 million budget.

“There are no new programs, the board has been sensitive to the economic times,” Wilhelm said.

He detailed steps that trimmed some $380,482 from initial requests, efforts that lowered the budget’s overall increase over the present budget to 3.69 percent.

Among the measures is a plan to restructure the district’s leadership, combining three positions into two by replacing the current superintendent, business manager and curriculum coordinator positions with a superintendent and assistant superintendent. This would save $60,000.

A staff position would be cut at Poland Regional High School and a custodial position eliminated at the Poland Community School. A plan to increase walking distances for students in grades 7–12 is estimated will save $21,500.

Wilhelm said the proposal does not address a number of the district’s needs. It contains nothing to address the loss of the K-3 music program, relieve crowding at the middle school, provide more opportunities for physical education, social work and health needs.

“One foreign language in your high school is not sufficient,” Wilhelm said. He also noted that the budget did add $3,000 for virtual classes, which will provide 21 seats, and that this could serve to improve access to another language.

Resident Tammy English questioned why promises were made a year ago on a plan  that would result in huge savings in health insurance costs.

School Committee member Terri Arsenault explained that plans to put health insurance coverage out to bid fell through.

Wilhelm pointed out that the budget’s estimated effects on property taxes varied considerably town to town. With an $18.5 million budget, taxes on a property valued at $100,000 would go up by $86.36 in Mechanic Falls, by $55.48 in Minot, and $6.20 in Poland.

“Why the jump in Mechanic Falls’ assessment?” Mechanic Falls Town Councilor Bob Small asked.

School Committee Chairman Mary Ella Jones explained that, in addition to the shift in the cost sharing formula from straight property valuation to valuation plus student count, the valuations the state places on town properties increased for Mechanic Falls and Minot, but decreased for Poland.

Another public budget informational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Minot Consolidated School.

The School Committee will meet April 23 to vote on a budget that will then go to a districtwide meeting and vote May 1 at the Poland Regional High School. The budget approved at the district meeting will then go to a referendum vote, to be held in the customary polling places in the three towns on May 15 for final approval.