The finance committee is recommending an increase of $500,511, or about 1.7 percent.

Selectmen voted last night to support an increase of at least $331,133, or 1.1 percent. The selectmen’s recommendation could increase by up to $86,827, pending a resolution of a couple of remaining budget issues.

Both recommendations are far below the additional $3.6 million school officials say they need to maintain current programs, and won’t prevent deep cuts in school personnel and programs.

The current school budget of $29.17 million has stayed the same for three years.

Without an increase, the schools are looking at eliminating 50 positions, including 28 teachers, ending nearly all school bus transportation, and closing the Devine Early Learning Center and moving kindergarten classes back into elementary schools.

Selectman James Burgess proposed increasing the school budget to $31 million, with the difference being made up by steeper cuts in municipal departments.

The proposal didn’t gain the support of any other board members, with Selectman William Alexopoulos calling it “unrealistic.”

Some of the money for the increase became available when the health board voted on Friday to increase the town’s trash fee by $30 per year.

Selectmen have not yet made their recommendation on a budget for the treasurer/collector’s office or the recreation department. The board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday night with the recreation commission to discuss a proposal to merge the youth and recreation departments.

The selectmen are recommending no money for the youth department in the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. This includes money to operate the youth center on Lafayette Street.

Selectman Chairman Paul Connors said the board’s budget proposal is much less painful than the one recommended by the finance committee.

“There is less damage done, and the potential is there to put more money back in the schools,” Connors said.

There is the potential for two layoffs in municipal departments under the selectmen’s plan: the youth coordinator and the youth outreach worker. One vacant position would be eliminated.

The finance committee plan would eliminate the job of elder affairs director and transfer the duties to the veterans’ agent and also eliminate a clerical job split between the selectman and accountant’s office. It would reduce the hours of three full-time jobs and retain the youth outreach worker.

The selectmen and finance committee agree on increasing the budget of the Turner Free Library so it can regain state accreditation.

In its budget recommendations, Connors said selectmen tried “to provide the best services to the town with the limited funds we have, with the override not passing.”

At the March 27 town election, voters rejected a $4.16 million Proposition 2½ override, with the bulk of the money going to the school department.

In addition to the meeting with the recreation commission, the selectmen will make their recommendations on the remainder of the town meeting warrant at Monday’s meeting.

Town meeting, which begins May 15, will make the final decisions on all town spending.

Fred Hanson may be reached at fhanson@ledger.com.