LEWISTON — Schools Superintendent Bill Webster is inviting residents to a budget information meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Geiger Elementary School, 601 College St.

Bill Webster (File photo)

Voters will cast ballots on the $82.9 million spending plan from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Longley Elementary School.

The 2018-19 budget is up $8.53 million from this year’s $74.37 million.

It includes $3.3 million from the state for the Robert V. Connors Elementary School being built next to Lewiston High School and is scheduled to open next year.

Almost 40 percent of the budget increase is due to the cost of the new school, Webster said in an email Monday.

Even though the state is paying for the nearly $50 million school, “we are required to put this in our budget,” which inflates the size of the budget.”

The rest of the increase reflects additional positions to lower class sizes, provide STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — teachers for all elementary schools and improve student supports, Webster said.

The budget would pay for more teachers and direct student support positions: 62 in all, including 50 teachers. Of those, 36 would be special education teachers and educational technicians to cover a growing number of special education students.

Those positions are covered largely by more education money from the state. Lewiston is expecting to receive $61.7 million, a 17.4 percent increase from this fiscal year. Lewiston is the highest receiver of state education money in Maine. Last year was the first major boost in state education money in a decade, Webster said.

To get all the state money, Lewiston taxpayers will be asked to spend 6.1 percent more than this fiscal year. That means a property valued at $150,000 would be taxed $81 more. Last year, a $150,000 property was taxed $16.50 less.

If the budget is reduced, every dollar cut will mean the loss of $2.88 from the state.

Thursday deadline for absentee ballots

LEWISTON — Thursday is the deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot for the May 8 school budget referendum, City Clerk Kathy Montejo said Tuesday.

Absentee ballots need to be requested by 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The ballots must be returned to the City Clerk’s office no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8.

To request an absentee ballot, voters can call the City Clerk’s Office at 207-513-3124 or stop by the office to vote in person.