SACO — The school board has come by some savings in the budget that will soften the blow when tax time comes along.

At a joint School Board and City Council workshop Monday night, Superintendent of Schools Michael Pulsifer announced that the school had received the numbers on April 1 for health and dental insurance for the upcoming year, and the cost was going to be about $260,000 less than anticipated.

“It could have gone the other way; we’re really lucky,” said Pulsifer.

The news means the proposed school budget would increase the mil rate by 65 cents instead of 78 cents.

By city charter, the school has to present a school budget proposal to the city in March, and school officials had to estimate the cost of the insurance, said Pulsifer.

The combined $34.1 million proposed school budget and the $25 million municipal budget would increase the mil rate a total of $1.08.

This would mean a $216 annual tax increase on a $200,000 home.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on a final city budget on May 11. The council will also vote on a school budget proposal that night. The school budget proposal voted on by councilors that evening will go out to the polls on June 9 for a final vote by residents.

Information on the proposed municipal budget can be found at www.sacomaine.org. Information on the proposed school budget can be found at http://sacoschools.org.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].