The budget that will appear on the March 10 school district ballot has been crafted with the economy in mind, said School Board Chairman David Sacks.

“The school district budget is appropriate for these economic times,” Sacks said. “It continues to ensure quality education can be delivered in the walls of our schools. At the same time, necessary cuts were made for facility maintenance.”

The estimated increase in the tax rate, with all appropriations, would range from 48 to 62 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. That means an increase of $192 to $248 in tax payments for a home worth $400,000.

In addition to three warrant articles reflecting a total of $1.2 million in salary raises for teachers, custodians and supporting staff, voters will be asked to approve a $56.4 million budget. The district’s operating budget is the cost of running the three elementary schools, and the intermediate, middle and high schools. It includes the added expense of the third and final year in the opening of the high school – when it brings on the senior class in September.

The salary increases are spread out over three articles.

Article 2 has $988,023 for teachers salary raises, carrying a tax impact of 29 cents per $1,000 property value on the school portion of the property tax rate. Article 4 proposes $61,964 in raises for for custodial and maintenance staff at 2 cents per $1,000 property value and Article 6 asks for $142,314, or 4 cents per $1,000 property value on the rate for salary raises for secretaries, clerks, teacher’s aides and other staff.

In an effort to bolster public support for the salary articles, the School Board cut $410,000 in capital projects from its budget, asking voters in return to approve the teacher and staff raises. That was after the superintendent and School Board already lowered the budget by $651,350.

“I believe that if Bedford residents want to continue to see a strong school system, (tends to be a good indicator of preferred towns in which to live), then the board would encourage them to vote not only for the district budget but also for the contracted salary increases for district staff,” Sacks said.

The latest reduction was accomplished by delaying two projects: $260,000 to rebuild the parking lot at McKelvie School and other site work, and $150,000 for sprinklers at the Peter Woodbury School.

The board also used $200,000 in impact fees from residential developers to offset spending.

Two offices are also up for election. There are three candidates for two School Board seats – Bill Foote is challenging incumbents Cindy Chagnon and Terry Wolf. Two people are running to be school district treasurer: Brenda Bernard and Leslie Greiner.

Elections take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, at the Bedford High School gym.