Waterford - The Board of Finance did not make any further cuts Monday to the 2011-12 school budget proposal on Monday and voted 6-1 to approve the $42.9 million spending plan.

Finance board member J.W. "Bill" Sheehan said he was satisfied with the cuts the school board made last week as it voted to lay off 11 teachers as part of a $1.2 million reduction of the school budget.

"It's better to fall on your own sword than have someone stab you with it," Sheehan said. "I'm impressed with the judicious cuts you made."

In an opening statement to the board, Superintendent of Schools Jerome Belair called the $42.9 million budget "a thoughtful plan."

"It is needs-based and mindful of the current economic conditions," Belair said.

Belair said the school budget, which will increase by 2.99 percent next year, stayed within the finance board's guideline to keep the increase below 3 percent.

In his statement, Belair said contractual obligations such as salaries and health benefits "were the main drivers" in the budget.

Mostly due to a hike in claims, school health insurance costs will increase by 31 percent or $1.5 million, in the 2011-12 budget.

A committee comprising elected officials and town employees has been meeting to explore ways to keep health costs down next year.

"Please rest assured we are working diligently on this," said Ruth Beers, the director of finance.

The finance board is not permitted to cut individual items in the school budget, but can reduce the total.

The board is scheduled to hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday before it votes to approve the overall town budget later that night. The Representative Town Meeting will hold hearings on the budget during the first week of May.

The tentative tax rate for 2011-12 is 18.83 mills, a 0.80-mill increase. The town must wait until the Board of Assessment Appeals issues a report next week before it can finalize the tax rate.

s.chupaska@theday.com