Changes may still be made to a draft proposal that asks for a 4.4 percent overall increase.

RUMFORD – SAD 43 board members will take another look at a tentative operating budget for 2004-2005 on Monday

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the library of Mountain Valley High School.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said changes may still be made to a draft proposal that asks for $14.3 million, up 4.4 percent from the current year’s adopted budget of $13.7 million.

Although the overall budget is up, Hodgkin said the tax levy to the district’s homeowners will decline about 1 percent because of higher than expected state aid to education funds. He said about $200,000 more in state aid is expected this year than last.

As proposed, one position will be eliminated through attrition from Meroby Elementary School. The remaining district staff will stay the same.

Hodgkin said wage increases for the district’s staff, based on a best estimate, and a significant hike in insurance costs are the primary reasons for the proposed budget increase. Several of the district’s bargaining units are still in negotiations.

If the draft budget is adopted at the next board meeting May 3, as it will be discussed on Monday, Byron and Mexico will see very minimal increases and Roxbury and Rumford, will experience tiny decreases from last year’s school tax levy.

Residents will vote in a districtwide meeting June 3, then in referendum on June 8.

In other matters on Monday, the board will watch a program by Kids on the Block, a student puppet ensemble that presents an anti-drug and anti-alcohol message. The board will also decide whether to spend up to $4,500 to contract with Maine School Management for an update of the district’s policy handbook, appoint someone to serve as girls head track coach at MVHS, and hear reports on student enrollment and from several of the district’s administrators.

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