The Edgecomb Budget Committee is recommending $144,609 or 3.88 percent more municipal spending for fiscal year 2016-17. The five-person committee completed work on April 4 by proposing a $3,871,156 municipal budget.

The committee will submit its recommended budget on April 11 for the selectmen’s review.

Non-discretionary spending accounts for the biggest increase in proposed spending. The Edgecomb School Committee, county taxes, and the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District account for $3,052,030 in proposed non-discretionary spending.

The school committee requested $2,664,336 which is $125,154 or a 4.69 percent increase. Proposed special education spending accounts for the largest increase. The school committee recommends a $441,465 special education budget which is $117,632 more than this year’s. Several more Edgecomb students in grades 7-12 are receiving special instruction, according to school officials.

Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent Eileen King previously reported to the budget committee that special education tuition for grades 7-12 students is $87,778. The school committee also requests $22,075 for a special education technician needed for a K-12 student’s individual education plan.

Lincoln County and BRRDD also requested more money. County taxes are up four percent from $264,466 to $275,045. And the refuse district requested $112,649 which is up $2,988, a 2.72 percent increase.

The budget committee recommends a $819,126 discretionary spending budget which is a $5,888, or 0.72 percent, increase. Discretionary spending includes general government, public safety, highways and bridges, and other miscellaneous items.

On April 4, the committee debated whether to eliminate the fire department’s requested $5,000 for the truck reserve account. The town recently purchased a used $30,000 brush truck using $25,000 from the fund.

Selectmen Jack Sarmanian and Mike Smith recommended not funding the truck reserve account this year.

“This may be the year not to fund it. We just bought a truck and the account only has $599 remaining. Putting $5,000 into it really won’t make a difference and will help us keep spending down this year,” Sarmanian said.

After lengthy debate, the committee voted 4-0 to recommend $5,000 for the fire truck reserve account.

“This is really something the voters should decide. If we recommend zero then it won’t be on the warrant. If we recommend the $5,000, the voters can either accept, reject or reduce it,” said Budget Committee Chairman Nort Fowler.

The committee also recommended reducing another fire department request. The department requested 15 sets of turnout gear: new protective jackets and bib pants. According fire department officials, turnout gear has a three-year limitation based on state regulations.

“This won’t outfit the entire department. They asked for 15 because of the state regulations and because a lot of the current protective gear doesn’t fit,” Fowler said.

The committee countered with recommending eight sets of jackets and bib pants which reduced the department’s gear request by over $13,000. This left the fire department’s $75,509 budget request up $3,380 or 4.7 percent.

“I think half is a good faith effort,” committee member Jack Brennan said. “If we buy them all 15 this year then they’re all going to expire all at once in three years. So probably it’s better to spread them out a little.”

The selectmen will review the budget committee’s final report at 5 p.m. on April 11 in the municipal building.