Groton ― The Board of Education has approved a proposed 2023-24 budget of $81.5 million, which represents a 2.97% increase.

The increase is among the smallest being proposed by communities in the region.

The Board of Education’s budget and the town’s spending proposal will be presented at a public hearing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 at the Thrive 55+ Active Living Center and as a virtual meeting.

The Town Council will then review the education budget at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 at the Town Hall Annex and via Zoom, as the first in a series of budget reviews.

Board of Education Chair Kim Shepardson Watson said the school budget, approved by the board on Feb. 22, keeps everything operational in the school district and continues programs that help provide the best educational services for children.

Superintendent of Schools Susan Austin proposed in January an education budget of about $83 million, which called for a $3.9 million or 4.98% increase over the current budget. Austin said inflation, increases in fuel and electricity, transportation costs due to a new bus contract, and salaries were driving the budget increase.

Austin said the board was very thoughtful and went line by line through the budget.

Transportation costs are still increasing, but through negotiations, the district was able to avoid some costs in the new bus contract, she said. The board also decided to use some supplemental funds that Groton receives from the Department of Defense towards technology.

The board also lowered the amount of funding in the health account after having savings over the past couple of years, she said.

“All in all we were able to bring down the adjusted budget to under 3%,” Austin said.

Shepardson Watson said the Town Council can’t make line-by-line adjustments to the education budget, but can cut the overall education funding, add to it, or approve it as is.

After holding department-by-department budget reviews, the council is expected to take a vote on the overall town and school budget on April 25. The budget then heads to the Representative Town Meeting for approval.

k.drelich@theday.com