FREEPORT

Residents in Durham, Pownal and Freeport will likely be looking at paying more money for schools, but the question is, how much?

Regional School Unit 5’s board will hold a special meeting Wednesday, the purpose of which is to take public comment, debate and ask additional questions over budget recommendations whose increases range from 3.37 percent to 9.15 percent.

The board will vote on a budget proposal May 13, according to Nelson Larkins, RSU 5 board chairman.

A bare-bones budget with no new spending but includes wage and benefit increases, insurance and facilities costs would cost more than $28 million, or a little less than $1 million more compared to the current budget. That’s according to budget options presented to the board by the superintendent’s office on April 29.

“What has to be understood is there are a whole series of set costs that are going to increase the budget, from utilities to all of our contracts with teachers,” Larkins said. “Just to stay where we’re at, we’re looking at over a 3 percent increase.”

The board has yet to fully debate its options. Speaking as an individual board member, Larkins said the board may need to spend more than $28.9 million for essential services, and that there aren’t places where the board could make significant cuts.

Larkins appeared to support recommendations by the superintendent that would increase the budget by about $688,000, or 5.89 percent.

That would include $269,000 for about eight education technicians for special needs students.

Currently, those services are provided by an outside agency and is paid for through Medicare. The RSU has been advised to discontinue what he called a “highly risky practice,” in part, because “you need them to handle more than just medical issues,” Larkins said.

The techs, Larkins said, were “absolutely necessary.”

Larkins is also championing a $219,570 interest payment on the Freeport High School renovation project.

That upfront payment would save the RSU $1.2 million over the life of the $14.6 million bond approved by voters to pay for the project, according to Larkins.

Other spending includes:

— $116,000 for two additional custodians.

— $74,000 for an additional instructional support strategist.

— $10,000 in technology spending for student-based reporting.

Larkins said he welcomes Wednesday’s anticipated debate.

“It’s fair for people to ask questions. It’s a lot of money, and it’s a difficult process,” he said. “The board is very aware of how hard it is for the average taxpayer to see increases that are above the cost of inflation. Everything that’s been proposed can be deemed necessary for giving the best education for our kids. None of this is taken lightly.”

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com