The budget calls for an 8.6 percent increase in spending and a 5.93 percent increase in the tax levy. The proposed budget calls for an $8,684,593 budget compared to the current year’s figure of $7,997,120. The local share is $3,526,175, up from the previous year’s total of $3,328,934.

Voters will adopt or reject the plan Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m., when school budget votes are held statewide. The vote is being held in the MCS Theater Lobby.

During the 45-minute hearing, Livshin addressed some specific increases in the budget.

He said the cost of special education rose nearly $200,000, primarily because one family with five special needs kids moved into the district. Additionally, the amount of money going to Springbrook _ whose kids the district is responsible for educating _ increased by approximately 40 percent. That comes from a single additional child joining their program, Livshin said.

He said one child in the district has to be transported to Delhi each day because the kid is autistic. That costs about $65,000 per year, Livshin said.

Richard Young asked what would happen to the district if 50 kids like that moved into the area.

Livshin said it wouldn’t take nearly that many to severely impact the district’s budget.

"Ten children like that would break the school," Livshin said.

Revenue is set to increase by 13.72 percent _ $589,343 _ but the school will use nearly $100,000 less than the current year from the fund balance to reduce the tax levy. This year the district used $374,110 to reduce the tax levy and will use $275,000 under the proposed plan.

Enrollment is anticipated to decline by 3.4 percent, or about 17 students.

Prior to the budget hearing, Livshin attributed the budget increase to higher energy costs and rising health insurance costs.

He also said the school added two programs to the curriculum.

The district also didn’t receive as much of an increase in state aid as neighboring districts did, Livshin said.

He said Milford has fewer students receiving free and reduced lunches, a figure used for calculating how much state aid a district receives, compared to other area districts.

"The state views us as less needy," he said.

Livshin’s salary under the budget proposal will be $117,172. The cost of his benefits, including health care coverage and contributions to retirement system will cost an additional $45,369.