AUBURN — Property taxes would have to go up to support a school budget estimated to increase 4.6 percent, according to Superintendent Katy Grondin.

That means last year’s $39 million budget would become about $41 million, which she described as “close to holding the line.”

The impact on property taxes is not yet known, Grondin said. She outlined the first part of her 2016-17 spending plan to the School Committee on Wednesday night.

Grondin has not released revenue numbers that would show the amount of property taxes needed for schools in the coming year.

But as in Lewiston, it will have to be more.

This year the state is mandating that municipalities pay a higher share of local education, or be penalized by losing state money: roughly $2.40 for every $1 not raised locally.

On top of that, early numbers from the Maine Department of Education show the state is giving $20 million less to schools statewide because of rising costs and decreased valuation.

Because of that, Auburn stands to receive about $271,000 less. Grondin said om an interview Wednesday that she’s working with local legislators to try to restore the $20 million.

Other factors contributing to the 4.6 percent increase include rising health costs, staff raises, 2½ new positions (one was paid for with federal funds which have lapsed), and more for supplies for the city’s nine schools, especially the high school.

Edward Little has a number of unmet needs, and positions not included in the budget, “because at this point we probably can’t afford it,” Grondin said.

It’s important for the community to know that the high school could use additional positions to meet new, nontraditional teaching  methods, she said. “We’re asking a lot” from teachers, Grondin said. “We need to support that.”

One bright spot is that special education costs are not going up dramatically, Grondin said.

She said many people understand that at some point, more money must be spent.

“I’m hearing the community understanding that we’ve held the line in funding education,” she said. “We’ve done a really good job providing high-quality education in tight times. But at some point you have to start filling in those gaps that have been made. When you take the system apart to try to hold taxes, the system has to have parts put back to help all the needs we have.”

The budget presentation given this week “is the first part of the story,” Grondin said, going over part of the spending and reasons for changes.

“There will be things that will be additions we’ll hear more about,” she said. “We’re going to have to make hard choices.”

The School Committee will hear more about expenses when it meets at 6 p.m. March 9. On March 16, the committee will hear a report on revenue, Grondin said.

MORE COVERAGE: 3 things you need to know about Auburn’s proposed school budget