North Stonington —The big news in town has been lease negotiations between the town and restaurateur Fotis Georgiadis, but it looks like the sides may be close, if not done, with a negotiated land-lease.

That means Buon Appetito, on Route 2, will be able to get a liquor license. Georgiadis attempt to get a license prompted lease changes in the first place, so both sides seem content that that aim may be becoming a reality.

"Let's get it signed, get them their liquor license, get them operating at full-tilt and see what they can do," said Georgiadis' attorney Morris Borea after a town meeting May 24.

That town meeting was continued until the town meeting on the 2011-12 budget, which may be about two weeks away.

First Selectman Nicholas H. Mullane said having the restaurant deal close to completed would allow the town to get down to business - and there's plenty to do.

First up is the budget, which features what was, as of press time, $18,009,129.

That represents a 0.8 percent increase over the current year's budget, and would increase the tax rate by 0.1 mills. The mill increase is equivalent to an additional $10 dollars in property tax on a home worth $100,000, town Treasurer Robin Roohr said.

The tax rate would stand at 20.29 mills.

Mullane said the atmosphere at the May 23 public hearing was "sober" and that there wasn't too much feedback. The Board of Finance planned to iron out the final details last week before the selectmen set a date for a town meeting and vote on the proposed budget. That could be soon, within the next week or so, Mullane said.

The Board of Education proposed its budget in March. The proposal would cost three current teachers their jobs.

"Last year we gave (the Board of Finance) a zero increase, and they appreciated that, and I think they'll appreciate it this year because we again have done exactly what they asked for," Superintendent Natalie Pukas said in March.

About 80 percent of the education budget goes to staff salaries. To avoid an increase, Pukas said at the time, the school system would lay off three teachers and three paraprofessionals, all of whom work in the special education department.

The school system plans to use $169,000 in federal grant money reserved in the current budget to hire three teachers in 2011-12: a second reading/language arts teacher for grades 8 and 9, a special education reading teacher and a preschool teacher.

Pukas will retire at the end of the 2011-12 school year, and about $46,000 has been budgeted for expenses in the search for a new superintendent.

The general government budget will contain the 0.8 percent increase, rising to $4,183,620.

Board of Finance Chairman Mark S. Donahue said the capital budget will decrease about $34,000, but debt service will rise approximately $146,000. The increase will include "payments for a firetruck, the Seaport/Hewitt property purchase, highway department trucks and repairs to the school boilers," Donahue said.

Mullane also mentioned continued progress in getting a Main Street bridge built.

At a recent Board of Selectmen meeting, Mullane said the selectmen and the town historical society agreed upon a 28-foot wide single-arch bridge. He said the design was slightly modified so that the bridge could withstand a "210 year storm event."

Designs will be created before construction begins, hopefully sometime this summer, Mullane said.

s.goldstein@theday.com