Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood set out to keep the local share of Wiscasset's 2019-2020 school budget under $6 million. She just made it, as it stands now: Voters would be asked to raise $5,999,999 of a proposed $9.3 million budget.

Wood presented a fourth and potentially final draft of the budget to the school committee Tuesday night. She noted the school department’s current enrollment stood at 497, with 220 at Wiscasset Elementary School and 277 at Wiscasset Middle High School.

Wood noted a revenue shortfall. “The school department counted on $1.2 million in projected tuition. The actual amount will be about $856,124 – about $350,000 short of what we expected.” She further noted the school department is receiving $219,000 less in state aid.

Although monies were trimmed from the instruction line, the school department added more classroom time at both the elementary and high schools. School officials will move forward with a planned scheduling change for next year.

As the numbers currently appear, the budget would seek $3,276,123 for regular instruction, $2,188,013 for special education and $229,388 for other instruction. The school department is budgeting $525,923 for transportation including $30,000 for financing the purchase of two new school buses.

A little over $1.2 million is sought for school maintenance, $791,628 for student and staff support, $503,583 for administration, $60,000 for school nutrition and $12,500 for adult ed.

The school finance committee will meet next week to review the budget. The school committee plans to finalize the proposal April 9.