OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Regional School Unit 23 Board has released a preliminary budget proposal of $14.8 million for fiscal year 2019.

This proposed budget is about an $873,000 increase from the current fiscal year budget.

RSU 23 oversees education in the town of Old Orchard Beach.

The current budget proposal was announced last week at a budget workshop and is available online for public review at https://rsu23.org/school-board.

The proposed budget would increase annual taxes on a $200,000 home about $18, according to RSU 23 Business Manager Cindy Cox. This does not include any possible impact by the municipal budget, which has not yet been proposed.

Under the proposed district budget, the budget for Jameson School, which serves students from pre-K through second grade, would increase about $333,000 to about $1.8 million.

The proposed budget includes increased costs for the pre-Kindergarten program and two new positions at Jameson School. According to budget documents two new positions to support struggling students are being proposed based on feedback and recommendations.

The proposed district budget would also include a $240,000 increase in the Loranger Middle School budget, bringing the budget for the school which serves students from third grade to eighth grade, to just over $3 million.

The proposed budget also includes two new positions and the replacement of school supplies and furniture at Loranger Memorial School.

The proposed district budget would also increase the Old Orchard Beach High School nearly $142,000 about $2.8 million.

School officials will continue to review the budget this month and make any necessary adjustments, and the revised budget proposal will be presented to the public at a workshop at 6 p.m. On April 9 at Town Hall.

The budget then must pass three rounds of voting before a final budget is approved.

The school board must first vote on the proposed budget in April, then the public will vote on the proposed budget a public meeting on May 15.

The budget proposal approved at the May 14 meeting will go for a final vote at a town-wide referendum on June 11.

Superintendent of Schools John Suttie said community members with questions or concerns about the proposed budget can contact school board Chairman David Boudreau.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.