MEXICO — The RSU 10 board kicked off its budget development process Monday night with presentations by the seven elementary and middle school principals.

The current figures show a total proposed increase of just under $45,000 for 2013-14. This year’s budget is $35.1 million.

Superintendent Tom Ward said he asked each building administrator to present the budgets in the same amounts as this year.

He placed a freeze on purchasing supplies and equipment earlier in the school year because of the state’s curtailment of already promised general purpose aid of nearly $160,000.

The greatest increase was purchased of new copier and printer systems for each school, along with associated maintenance. Many paper and other supply requests were reduced. The amount the district pays to Black Mountain of Maine for use of its slopes and other skiing facilities by students from several RSU 10 schools also was increased.

In an expected cost-cutting measure, the board approved offering a teacher retirement incentive program. This will be the third time in four years that eligible teachers have been offered the incentive.

“This has generated a significant amount of money,” Ward said of past retirement incentives.

The number of teachers who would be eligible for the incentive was not announced. Those who are retiring must notify RSU 10 administration by April 12. In the past, nearly a dozen longtime teachers have chosen the option.

Ward said once a veteran teacher decides to retire, that position may or may not be filled.

Last month, in yet another effort to reduce costs, Ward restricted virtually all overtime, required prior approval before any purchases were made, eliminated course reimbursements for staff, unless the course meets a sequential need, and rearranged field trips so students return to school before the end of the school day so additional bus runs were not needed.

In another matter, the board granted approval to Buckfield Junior-Senior High School teachers Zachary and Maria Reinstein to take a group of students in grades eight to 12 from throughout the district to Costa Rica for nine days in April 2014 for a service learning experience.

Costs for the trip, which is expected to carry some academic credit, will be raised through traditional fundraising and soliciting donations.