FARMINGTON — RSU 9 directors continued budget talks Thursday, reviewing $311,602 in recommended cuts or alternate funding sources to bring a tentative spending plan down to $31.1 million.

That brought the increase to $1.37 million, or 4.6 percent more than the current $29.7 million budget.

The preliminary proposal was $31.4 million, a 5.7 percent or $1.68 million increase over the current budget.

At 8:15 p.m. Thursday, the board had yet to officially act on the cuts.

More than two hours into the session, directors continued to go over each line of the needs.

The recommended reductions from the regular budget for special education services are going to come out of federal entitlement money that is specifically for special education. The district received word that they would receive an increase in federal funds.

Other items, such as proposed stipends for coaches for freshmen boys’ and girls’ basketball and freshmen football and middle school cross-country teams, were eliminated. The district has not paid the coaches of those sports recently. Volunteers will continue to coach the sports.

Superintendent Tom Ward said he would be talking to the boosters and asking for help from them.

Other proposals were either put off for a year, would come from a different funding source or were taken care of through a personnel change. Others were reduced from the initial proposal.

Among the difficulties the district faces is a $410,315 reduction in state aid for education.

Board Chairman Mark Prentiss of Industry asked fellow directors how they felt about a 5.7 increase in the budget.

“I don’t want to assume we can’t do it but my own personal feeling is we won’t get the budget passed if we do,” he said.

Board members’ comments on the percentage of increase were mixed. Several said the 5.7 percent wouldn’t pass and others said that they would like to see the budget increase be around 4 percent. Some thought they could go with a 4.5 percent increase and some thought a 3 percent increase was the most that could be handed.

Student board representative Emily Rice, a senior, said it was important to think about the communities, but schools are the best investment to provide opportunities for students and they need to be funded the best way possible.

Ward said educating students is a joint effort with the community and they need to do it the best they can while also being fiscally responsible.

Budget discussions will continue Tuesday, May 6, at the Forum at Mt. Blue Campus. The time had not been decided by 8:15 p.m.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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