POLAND — The Regional School Unit 16 committee Monday voted to take a proposed $18.5 million budget to residents of Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland for their approval May 1.

The 2012-13 budget is 3.6 percent higher than the current year’s and asks local taxpayers to come up with $265,000 more than a year ago.

Poland Selectman Steve Robinson gave the board credit for involving town budget committees in drawing up the budget and for producing a better product than it did a year ago.

“But your expenditures are up over 10 percent in just two years,” Robinson said.

Resident Hope Becker criticized the board for generous salary increases. She said the salary of an average Maine resident had increased about $1,800 between 2009 and 2011.

“But during the same time the average increase in salaries of RSU 16 employees was $6,000,” Becker said.

Learning that the School Committee expected to have a signed teachers’ contract by May 1, Robinson also questioned why the committee isn’t waiting until after that date before approving a budget to take to voters.

Interim Superintendent Michael Wilhelm said there was no reason to delay a vote on the budget because it matches what the expected salaries and benefits will amount to.

“We have a very good idea of where we are going to end up in the contract, the numbers are not going to be off a whole lot,” Wilhelm said.

The only portion of the budget that generated discussion was the transportation line.

At the committee’s request, Transportation Director Tom Kelly has proposed a plan that reduces the number of bus stops for middle and high school students. It increases walking distances for some students, with the longest any student would have to walk at seven-tenths of a mile. The district’s policy is that no student be required to walk more than a mile.

Changes proposed by Kelly lower transportation costs by $21,500.

The estimated effect on taxes for a property valued at $100,000 differs in the district’s three towns.

Under the proposed budget, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 property in Mechanic Falls an estimated $86.36 more; in Minot an estimated $56.48 more; and in Poland an estimated $6.20 more.

The districtwide meeting and vote will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 1 at the Poland Regional High School.

The budget approved at the district meeting will go to a referendum May 15 at customary polling places in the three towns.

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