SANFORD — The after-school academic Kid’s Club program, a high school English teacher, two junior high school teaching positions, a school resource officer, two elementary school teacher librarians and two administration positions ”“ and more ”“ could be on the chopping block this coming school year.

The proposed cuts, designed to achieve a zero percent tax increase and identified by the school committee Monday, also include elimination of high school golf and tennis teams; a reduction in the high school swimming program; all junior high school sports would be become intramurals, and the list goes on ”“ all adding up to $2.6 million.

That’s the word from Superintendent of Schools David Theoharides, who said the list of reductions was prepared to meet the budget committee’s expectation of no tax increase for the coming year. The budget committee will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the council chamber of City Hall to hear three possible scenarios: the zero percent option, what an 85-cent increase on the tax rate would look like, and a $1.67 increase. An 85-cent increase translates to a $136 tax increase on a home valued at $160,000. A $1.67 tax increase means about $267 more.

They could formulate a recommendation that night or hold off for another meeting. Ultimately, the city council will vote on a budget plan, and so will the community at large, in a validation referendum June 10.

Theoharides said he spent much of Tuesday calling employees to let them know their jobs could hang in the balance, if the zero percent is the option chosen.

The school department eliminated 35 positions in the current year budget. Theoharides and the school committee had hoped to restore some of them and had added them back into the budget for the school year that begins July 1, but they too are gone in the zero percent scenario.

“Sanford schools are facing devastating budget reductions,” Theoharides said in a prepared statement.

Theoharides and business manager Scott Wyman outlined the scenarios in an interview with the newspaper Tuesday. Theoharides said Sanford is facing a financial problem brought on in part by declining revenues. While the state subsidy is pegged to be $100,000 more next year, because Sanford’s overall value has declined, the city will pay more money ”“ through an increase in the state mil rate ”“ to get the full $19 million subsidy, Wyman explained. As well, the federal government is cutting back, so revenues from that source and others is down another $500,000, he estimated. All that, coupled with a slight decrease in enrollment, means times are tough.

“Even with a flat-funded school budget, the mil rate increase from the state will require Sanford to raise an additional $650,000,” Wyman said.

“This is indicative of the times we live in. There’s not just an expense problem, but a revenue problem,” said Sanford Mayor and budget committee member Tom Cote, in a brief interview Tuesday evening. “The situation was created over time. We have to understand what our priorities are. It is an unfortunate situation for the students.”

And although he’s still digesting the proposals, Cote did say he doesn’t think anyone will support a 10 percent tax increase.

“We’ll decide as a budget committee and a council (whether we can) attract new families with the budget situation,” he said.

The 85-cent increase proposal retains most existing programs and staff, while the $1.67 proposal would also allow for limited restoration of some positions cut in this year’s budget.

The school budget presented to the budget committee March 6 was proposed at $36.3 million for the coming school year, up from $34.25 million this year.

Sanford’s tax, or mil rate, increased by $1.88 to $21.20 in the current year, up from $19.32. And although there was about $14 million in new construction, the city’s overall value decreased by $60 million.

While most property owners saw a tax increase, about 450 saw increases of more than 10 percent, City Manager Steve Buck said in September. Buck said most property owners, about 3,340, saw a tax increase of no more than 4.52 percent. There were 3,073 property owners who saw an increase between 4.52 and 10 percent. The city manager said there were 1,967 property owners whose tax bills decreased this year.

Theoharides is hoping the budget committee will take a long look at the proposals and the possible impact.

“Cuts of this magnitude will significantly impact our ability to provide the types of educational opportunities that our children deserve,” he said.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.