By John VoketThe Bee went to press February 4. Look for updates on that story at newtownbee.com.

After several budget sessions that included presentations by key department heads, and concluding with a presentation by the Board of Fire Commissioners on January 28 and Parks and Recreation officials February 1, the Board of Selectmen unanimously passed a 2016-17 budget proposal to colleagues on the Board of Finance for further review.

The request, if passed unchanged by the finance board and Legislative Council, and approved by voters at referendum April 26, would increase municipal spending by 2.37 percent. The municipal budget includes a number of shared services with the school district, as well as all debt service on bonding including all capital school projects.

The request approved by selectmen February 1 increases the current townside budget of $40,142,567 by $802,535 - to $40, 945,102. Among proposed increases in next year's spending plan are:

*Overall wage and salary increases of $336,413 - up 2.87 percent

*Fringe benefit increases of $475,184 ­- up 9.56 percent

*Health insurance increases totaling $60,000 - up 5.77 percent

*Operating expense increase totaling $30,195 - up 0.41 percent

*A contingency increase of $28,945 - up 16.9 percent

*Contributions to town/other agencies of $35,410 - up 1.67 percent

During selectmen budget sessions, officials learned that a marked increase in fringe benefit costs resulted from a ten percent increase to the town's self-insured medical plan and increased pension contributions (20 percent).

While increased claims are driving the insurance fund hike, recently adjusted mortality tables are increasing participant life spans, generating greater pension benefit payments.

Additional insurance costs borne by the town, which provides benefits for agencies like the Health District, the C.H. Booth Library, and the Edmond Town Hall staff, are driving that line's modest increase.

Other insurance increases are attributed to an anticipated five percent increase in general liability and workers' compensation costs.

A planned $250,000 increase in bonding for road improvements and a modest $40,000 allocation to the town's capital nonrecurring fund are driving the anticipated capital increase.

A total preliminary municipal services increase of 4.19 percent is being reduced to 2.37 percent because of a drop in capital borrowing costs of $305,113 (3.02 percent).

The Board of Education was scheduled to complete its budget request after the print edition of

Following a presentation of the Board of Education budget request on Monday, February 8, the Board of Finance will dig into the municipal spending plan on Wednesday, February 10.