LISBON

Lisbon’s school budget is ready to go before voters in June.

The town council approved a $16.4 million budget — less than the initial one proposed by Superintendent Richard Green. The district received insurance information since then, which increased only by 1 percent — instead of the 9 percent increase in the initial proposal.

Spending will be up from the previous year’s budget of $15.7 million, an increase of $676,540 — or 4.3 percent. The budget proposes $7 million be raised by taxes, which is up $493,786 — or 7.5 percent — from the previous year’s amount of $6.5 million.

Salaries are helping drive the increase. In previous years, there has been a placeholder value of $250,000 put in the budget for the pay raises — which is lower than the actual increases have been. This year, however, the number — $455,586 — reflects the actual amount of increase.

The school department also used $200,000 from an unassigned fund balance to offset budget expenses and the launch of the Gartley Street School alternative education program last year. That left $5,678 remaining in that fund for this year.

The school budget will be put before voters on June 12.

“Now begins the education part to be able to make sure people properly show up,” said Chairman Allen Ward.

In other business, the council voted to add a second patrol officer into the proposed police budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The cost for the additional officer is $81,000.

Police Chief Marc Hagan expressed a need for at least one additional officer at a May 8 budget presentation. He said the department was currently running at bare minimum coverage, creating a safety concern, as well as potential cost increases from overtime hours.

The potential hiring would bring the department roster up to 14. The council was divided, voting 4-3 to approve the second officer.

“The town paid pretty substantial money for a study done for police officers, the study recommended the idea of having 14 full-time staff,” said councilor Fern Larochelle. “Public safety always seems to be the number one thing that people say when you ask ‘what do you want to support in the town?’ Second being the school, depending on who you ask.”

“I hate to vote against something like that,” said councilor Kris Crawford. “There’s a lot of staffing issues throughout different departments. I’d love to get everybody up to where they need to be, but there’s already going to be an increase in taxes.”

chris@timesrecord.com