LEBANON — The School Board unanimously approved a $55.1 million proposed operating budget last week.

On Saturday, voters will have the opportunity to discuss and potentially amend the numbers at a deliberative session.

The budget increased 7% from last year, primarily as a result of a jump in employee health care costs and tuition increases for special education and the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center.

In order to contain costs, district schools will see staff reductions that include the loss of an art teacher, four paraprofessionals and an enrichment teacher. Facilities projects and technology equipment purchases were also scaled back to mitigate budget growth.

At the district level, one full-time administrative support staff position will be created.

Voters will also be asked to appropriate $800,000 to a construction and renovation capital reserve fund. Of that, $200,000 will come from taxpayers, and the remaining $600,000 will be transferred from an excess fund balance. 

At Saturday’s deliberative session, residents may make motions to raise or lower the budget, with any motion requiring a 60% majority of voters in attendance to pass. If all articles pass and voters approve the budget by ballot in March, the tax impact is expected to be $1.44 per $1,000 assessed value. This would equal $576 annually on a $400,000 home. 

The deliberative session is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 3, at 9 a.m. in the Lebanon Middle School cafeteria. In case of snow, the session will take place on Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Ballot voting on the school budget will take place on Tuesday, March 12.