RUMFORD – At the SAD 43 board’s final budget development workshop on Monday, a majority of members retained a librarian position that had previously been eliminated, and cut two library educational technicians instead.

The proposed budget, which the board will act on at its regular meeting on May 7, came in at $14,792,000, up over 3 percent from this year’s $14.3 million budget.

At previous budget meetings, the board eliminated a gifted and talented educational technician, a high school educational technician and a middle school educational technician.

The board also agreed to put a five-year, $750,478 bond issue before voters when they go to the polls in June.

Business manager Paula Puiia said the capital money would pay for two replacement boilers at Meroby Elementary School, high school kitchen equipment, which would be operated by gas instead of electricity because the school would serve as an emergency shelter, a high school roof replacement and repairs to roofs at other schools, asbestos removal at Rumford Elementary and Mountain Valley Middle schools, and other repairs.

She said buildings, grounds and transportation director Tim Gallant is seeking a grant that would pay for a portable generator that could be used in an emergency.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said he was surprised by the board’s decision to retain the fourth librarian position.

“I didn’t expect that. This will be the most difficult budget to pass, but it is as low as we can go without cutting programs,” he said.

The board will act on the budget and bond issue on May 7. Voters have the final say at a referendum election on June 12.