DIXFIELD – The Western Foothills School District board delayed approval of a proposed budget Tuesday night until they know where the last $300,000 in cuts will come from.

The board is aiming for a spending package of $34,128,524, which would be slightly less than the combined budgets of the member districts of SADs 43, 21 and 39. Superintendent Tom Ward and administrators will review the figures submitted by the three districts once again.

The proposed budget includes about $760,000 in previously agreed upon salary hikes for employees. Combining all three central offices into one saved about $600,000, Ward said.

“Without regionalization, we would be much higher,” Ward told the board. “I hope RSU employees understand that without this, all kinds of programs and positions would be going.”

Last week the board gave a thumbs-up to the proposed budget, but this week Vice Chairman Jeff Sterling of Rumford said he wanted to keep everything in each district as it is for the first year “then start looking at ways to find efficiencies. My thumb that was up last week is wavering,” he said.

Ward said that finding savings was important because some state money will likely be withheld and some likely to be reduced because of the state’s shortage of funds.

“We have to have some kind of carryover. Everyone is going to feel the pain,” Ward said.

The use of federal stimulus money was also questioned by Betty Barrett of Mexico. She said such positions generally become permanent positions once federal funding is eliminated.

Ward said he wants to retain positions for as long as possible.

“Instead of eliminating positions now, I’d like to keep positions for another year,” he said.

He added later in the meeting, however, that although he does not plan to lay off any employees, it is possible.

The board will meet Tuesday, May 12, at Rumford Elementary School to act on the budget. Ward is expected to show where the $300,000 will be taken from.

Once adopted, board members will sign the warrant within a couple of days.

Voters must act on the final figure at a districtwide meeting June 4, then again at a referendum June 9.