LEWISTON — Councilors on Tuesday approved a trimmer school budget, sending it on to voters for their approval next week.

Voters will go to the polls May 13 to vote on budget that calls for $17.9 million in property taxes for Lewiston schools, a $22.50 increase on taxes devoted to education for a $150,000 home.

School Superintendent Bill Webster said the budget represented hard work by both councilors and school officials.

“I appreciate the input we’ve received from the council,” Webster said. “It’s been a healthy relationship, even though we have not always agreed.”

School officials originally proposed a higher budget that would have increased the education tax rate by 31 cents per $1,000 of value — not the 15 cents councilors approved Tuesday.

Councilors balked and the School Committee went back to the drawing board.

School officials last week cut another $293,400 from the budget, which included funding for intramural athletics, a department savings account, dues and instruction and course reimbursements for teachers.

Councilors approved the budget with Mike Lachance and Leslie Dubois opposing it.

Lachance said he was holding out for deeper cuts.

“I said I was expecting a lower number, and I’m standing by that,” Lachance said.

All voting for the school budget will be May 13 in the gymnasium at the Longley School, 145 Birch St. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall.

Councilors will continue working on the municipal budget at a special workshop meeting Thursday, May 8.

Councilors began working on it in March, starting with a proposed increase to the city’s tax rate of 5.74 percent for the 2014-15 fiscal year. That would have boosted annual property taxes $197 on a $150,000 home.

City Administrator Ed Barrett said he thinks staff is close to a budget number that will make councilors happy.

Councilors on Tuesday easily supported a plan to move some general fund costs — in this case, about $76,000 to pay for 1.5 case worker positions in the city’s social services department — on to the Community Development Block Grant budget. That meant councilors reduced the block grant funding meant for social service agencies like the Trinity Jubilee Center, Safe Voices and Tree Street Youth. In all, 13 city nonprofit agencies will share $69,250, not $92,331 as was first proposed.

Councilors on Tuesday said the change concerned them but they could agree to it.

“If the positions in social services are that important we should be funding it through operating dollars,” Councilor Kristen Cloutier said. “I think it takes away from many of the social agencies that directly serve the downtown. That said, in the spirit of compromise, I am willing to support the positions.”

Councilors approved the Community Development Block Grant budget by a unanimous vote.

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