WILTON – The Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Budget Committee will host a public hearing on Feb. 8 at the middle-high school, to discuss the proposed budget for school year 2018-19.

The School District annual meeting is set for 9 a.m. March 10 at the middle-high school.

After many weeks of joint session with the School Board, the proposed budget for 2018-19 totals $12,214,106, although some final adjustments may be made at the meeting of the School Board on Feb. 6. The total is a reduction of 1.78 percent, or $116,245, from the current budget.

Proposed decreases in the SAU portion include $3,000 in professional development and supplies, and $10,000 in the business office

Changes in the technology budget include a decrease of $8,000 in software and $10,000 in replacement equipment. Total proposed technology budget is $292,301, down from the current amount of $345,655.

The Florence Rideout Elementary School budget is $1,316,340, while the Budget Committee proposed $1,268,340.

School Board proposed increases include replacement equipment and furniture. Under professional development, the cost of a math coach would be reduced.

A new transportation contract will add $19,090.

At Lyndeborough Central, site of the Early Learning Center, the proposed budget is $189,647. The Budget Committee suggests cuts in utilities and repairs ($4,000), professional development ($2,200) and curriculum ($6,000). The transportation contract will add $4,848.

The total is $189,647, a reduction of $24,000.

The proposed middle school budget is $516,740, a reduction of 18.8 percent. The Budget Committee has proposed further reductions of $22,500 in curriculum, replacement equipment and new furniture.

The high school total is $1,125,589, a decrease of 5.3 percent over this year. The transportation contract would add $651.

The Budget Committee has proposed a further reduction of $21,500.

The payroll and benefit line totals $3,538,497, a 3.33 percent decrease, although there is an increase of $68,876 in the payroll.

Changes include a decrease of $71,045 with the retirement of a fifth-grade teacher. Two new middle school teachers are proposed at a cost of $90,000.

Voting for district officers will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 13 in Wilton and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Lyndeborough.