SABATTUS — Regional School Unit 4 Superintendent Jim Hodgkin presented selectmen Tuesday night with an $18.9 million school budget for 2016-17.

It’s 1.84 percent, or about $341,000 more than this year’s spending plan.

The proposal includes $84,000 for a math program geared toward grades three to six, and $63,000 for a dean of students to assist staff and students at Libby Tozier and Sabattus Primary School.

Hodgkin said the state’s education subsidy decreased by $422,000 this year, leaving it up to taxpayers to make up this amount.

“More is being required of the taxpayers of RSU 4 because of the state, not because of increased budgets,” he said.

Selectman Michelle Ames said she couldn’t support the increase in spending.

Rep. Randy Greenwood, R-Wales, said that while Maine has topped $1 billion in education funding, it is not the 55 percent mandated because retirement costs are included in this figure.

Rep. Stephen Wood, R-Greene, said Gov. Paul LePage is aware of the inequality of funding across the state and is interested in a new formula to make things fair for all communities.

More information on the school budget is available online at rsu4.org.

In other business, Town Manager Anthony Ward presented the board with an 18-month contract with Aspen Energy to broker electricity services through Champion Energy, a subsidiary of the Calpine Co. The proposal offers the town hall building a fixed rate of 6.199 cents per kilowatt hour as opposed to the current variable rate of 6.56 cents per kilowatt hour, a savings of about $1,000 per year.

The board approved the measure and authorized Ward to complete the contract, which will begin next month.

The board also approved Ward’s recommendation to switch dispatch services from Lisbon to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, saving the town about $15,000 over three years. The change will offer a more comprehensive approach to emergency services, Police Chief Gary Baillargeon said, and allow the police and fire departments access to the county’s criminal database.

The board:

* Approved 41 warrant articles to be presented to the public at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Town Hall;

* Appointed Norm LaPlante as emergency management director;

* Approved of Sabattus House of Pizza applying for a liquor license; and

* Approved Uncle Moe’s diner to renew its liquor license.

The next selectmen meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3.