WALES — Superintendent Jim Hodgkin and staff spent Thursday morning cutting next year’s budget.

He said the message out of Wednesday night‘s joint meeting with Regional School Unit 4 directors, selectmen in Sabattus, Litchfield and Wales, and members of the public was clear: “Any type of increase at all is going to be really challenging for the towns to be able to support,” Hodgkin said. “It’s kind of what we expected.”

With no money left to roll over from this year’s budget and an anticipated drop in state revenue, the district has been left with finding places to cut to flat-fund next year at $17.6 million. Directors had discussed a 2 percent increase, to $17.95 million.

Even flat-funded, residents with a $150,000 home in Sabattus would see an additional $201.75 on their property tax bills to support the schools. A Litchfield homeowner would see $124.85 and a Wales homeowner, $184.89.

Staff on Thursday worked on a roughly $17.8 million budget to present to school board directors next Wednesday. That includes a list of $570,000 in proposed cuts.

“They’re pretty painful cuts,” Hodgkin said. “It’s a lot of positions; it’s really hard.” He described them as a mix of teaching and support staff and declined to go into detail.

The school board will meet Wednesday night at 6:30 at Oak Hill Middle School.

Hodgkin hopes to have a budget approved by the board in early- to mid-May, followed by public hearings.

kskelton@sunjournal.com