The Lisbon School Committee is sending a nearly $21.6 million budget to voters June 9 that is $505,511 more than the roughly $21.2 million approved by voters last year.

It comes after the Town Council made deep cuts to town operations aimed at softening the overall impact on taxpayers.

Budget talks for the town and the school were difficult this year as the town’s property valuation went up by $4 million, resulting in less state revenue sharing.

The school department saw a decrease in state funding of $438,562, from $11.8 million for the current year to $11.4 million for next year.

The decrease and other changes mean taxpayers will need to raise $630,674 more for the new school budget, from $8.6 million for this year to $9.2 million.

The proposed school budget —2.4% more than the current year — will likely get public scrutiny in the wake of town budget problems over the past few years. Last year the school budget failed twice on public vote, eventually passing on a third vote in November.

In this year’s proposed budget, the biggest drivers are contracted salaries and benefits, Superintendent Rick Green said. The proposed budget maintains all current staff positions, but administrators continue to discuss potential restructuring to trim operational costs. 

Voting will take place June 9 in the Lisbon High School gym, 2 Sugg Drive, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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