The Bedford School Board presented its $56 million budget to about 15 residents at its first ever televised budget public hearing.

The total operating budget, presented Jan. 16, is $56,108,163, includes all proposed articles, if approved by voters. That amount would raise the budget 4.5 percent over last year, creating an estimated tax increase of $1.11 per $1,000 property valuation.

That means the owner of a $300,000 home would pay an additional $333 in taxes on the school side.

Without warrant articles, the budget would be $55,051,097, which is a 2.6 percent increase over last year.

Voters will be asked to consider warrant articles including $445,000 for the construction and land purchase for the secondary emergency access road to the middle/high school site.

The board has said $275,000 of the $445,000 article is reserved to purchase the land.

School Board member Sue Thomas said the land would be purchased with money from School District land reserve fund.

“We have that money sitting in a bank account,” said Thomas.

The land is 1.3 acres located adjacent to the middle school/ high school and is owned by Chalant Development Corporation.

The other $170,000 will go toward construction of the emergency access road along Chestnut Drive off Route 101, and would be raised through taxes.

That project alone would raise taxes 5 cents.

The School Board also outlined start-up costs for the high school as well as personnel needs.

Eleventh grade will be phased into the high school beginning this fall, requiring additional staff, including 20 new classroom teachers, a music teacher, guidance counselor, and two full-time and one part-time wellness/health teachers.

McKelvie School will add two sixth-grade teachers, a parttime art teacher, part-time world language teacher, and a part-time instrumental music teacher.

“We’ve added these positions (at McKelvie) to hold classroom enrollments to 25 plus or minus two,” said Superintendent of Schools Tim Mayes.

Bedford resident Beverly Barry said the $800,000 in the budget for athletic fields is something citizens should be able to vote on.

“I don’t think that money should be shoved down our throats,” she said.

School Board member Steve Beals said the need for these fields was explained to taxpayers when the middle school/high school was proposed. He also said the only costs to taxpayers is what’s needed things and not unnecessary additions.

“We are raising money privately for fringe things for the fields,” he said.

Thomas reminded the public that, “we have to pay these taxes, too.”

The final budget and warrants will be presented at deliberative session of the School District Meeting 0n Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7 pm., at Bedford High School.