WELLS —Administrators of the Wells and Ogunquit Community School District have hashed out their budget for the 2017-18 school year with a proposed figure of about $25.7 million.  

The amount is a 2.83 percent increase — $708,870 — over last year’s budget, according to the WOCSD website.

Under the new budget several capital improvement items would be addressed, such as renovating the front courtyard of the elementary school where pavement has eroded away. Additionally, a few initiatives would be taken at the junior high, including mitigating drainage issues in the schools back parking lot where kids often recreate.

Jay Moore, director of operations at WOCSD, said the spot at the Junior High is “almost like a lake back there,” during a Town Selectmen’s meeting back in late March. He added that the school plans to beautify that area, as well as in front of the school where passing cars have a clear view of the school, in an attempt to create a more appealing aesthetic.

“We’re going to beautify the front of the Junior High School. As people come down Route 1 that’s the first thing they really see,” Moore said. “Right in front of the junior high the grass needs to be taken up, so we’re going to put some sod in their to make that look excellent.”

Under the new budget $3.476 million would be designated toward health insurance, as well as $13.729 million allocated toward salaries — a 2.25 percent increase from last year’s salary spending.

The estimated annual tax rate for Ogunquit would be $3.98, slightly lower than the tax rate of the previous year’s budget. In Wells the estimated rate would be $6.32, 15 cents higher than last years rate.

The proposed budget would lower annual tax rates for Ogunquit homes priced at $300,000 or more by $3, according to documents on the WOCSD website. Homes of $300,000 in Wells would see an increase of $45.

Selectmen have voiced their approval of the budget for the past few weeks now, praising the school district’s ability to keep the figures fairly low while offering a quality education and schooling experience.

“I find it amazing that our budget can stay in that number and still offer what it offers,“ said Selectman Tim Roche during a Selectmen’s Meeting in late March. “We have this great school but our budget isn’t crawling out of control.”

The School Committee adopted the budget on April 5. Next comes an issuing of warrants by the School Committee on May 3. Before the budget validation vote on June 13, a school district budget meeting will be held on June 7.

— Staff Writer Ryder Schumacher can be reached at 282-1535, or via email at rschumacher@journaltribune.com.