SACO — The Saco School Board has requested a loan from the city to cover interim costs as it develops a new municipal school administrative unit.

The school board is requesting up to $250,000 from the city to cover six months of expenses as it transitions from being part of Regional School Unit 23 to its own municipal school unit, starting July 1.

Volunteer Saco School Board Facilitator Philip Blood has developed the funding proposal, with $75,000 to cover the interim superintendent of schools salary; $55,000 to cover a business manager; and the rest to cover legal costs, administrative assistance, consultants, equipment and other services.

The proposed loan would be paid back in the 2014-15 budget year.

“I have no problem with this,” said Councilor Eric Cote, during a discussion at a city council workshop Monday night.

Councilors Arthur Tardif and David Precourt questioned the amount of the proposed salaries.

The preliminary numbers are based on research Blood conducted on area school departments, and final numbers will be based on school board negotiations, said City Administrator Richard Michaud.

Mayor Don Pilon said the numbers were “very fluid,” and the proposal would set up a line of credit.

“It’s a lot of work to get this up and running,” he said, of the new school department.

The council will vote on the proposed loan on Jan. 20.

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