East Lyme — The Board of Education unanimously approved a 2016-17 budget Monday of $45,599,605, which represents a 3.5 percent increase compared to the current budget.

The budget approved by the board on Monday is less than what Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Newton's originally proposed, as the board and superintendent have discussed reductions since his initial budget presentation in January. 

Previously, Newton had lowered his original proposal — a 4.56 percent increase — by offering potential reductions. On Monday, he brought to the board an additional $40,500 in proposed reductions to reach a 3.56 percent increase.

Overall, some of the reductions include setting aside fewer funds, than in the original budget proposal, for custodial overtime, security usage for the schools' facilities, district-wide computer equipment, and legal services for the Board of Education.

The budget also reduces $20,000 from a summer school special education program by reducing program and staff hours, said Newton.

The proposal would also move the 18-to-21-year-old transition program from its own facility to an in-house building, potentially East Lyme Middle School, said Newton. This would save $15,808.

Funds leftover in a flex account for teacher incentives would be used to offset some of the increases in benefits.

The budget adopted by the board also restores $47,790 in funding for Project Oceanology, requested by the board on Feb 1.

According to the superintendent's presentation last month, increases in salaries and benefits are the major factors driving up the 2016-17 budget. 

The original budget proposal removes two full-time teaching positions, due to declining enrollment.

Board members said Monday that they had discussed at a budget workshop last week removing an additional three full-time teaching positions, but decided against it because they were concerned it would impact student education. 

"I think it's important to note again that discussions centered around making sure the number of students in a class didn't get to a point where it was going to compromise our instruction," said board member Bill Derry. "It's nice that everyone was in agreement that while we would love to bring [the budget] below this number, we're not going to do it at the price of compromising our instruction."

The board also noted enrollment numbers that show 14 new students at the elementary school and six new students at the middle school, between Sept. 30, 2015, and Jan. 31, 2016.

Newton said he and administrators are comfortable with the budget, but would not want it to go any lower.

Newton said the proposal does not incorporate new programs requested by administrators, but it was a tough budget year with increases in salaries and benefits. He hopes to be able to incorporate the new programs in the 2017-18 budget.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich