RUMFORD — Residents in the 12-town RSU 10 district will vote on a proposed $35.1 million budget for 2012-13 at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 31, in Muskie Auditorium of Mountain Valley High School.

The proposed budget is up about 3 percent from the figure approved for school year 2011-12, which was $34.1 million.

Residents will vote on 21 articles that make up the total budget, which include adult education, Region 9 School of Applied Technology, bonding for two new school buses and many other articles.

RSU 10 residents will then vote on the final figure coming from Thursday’s validation vote by referendum in their individual towns on June 12. RSU 10 comprises the towns of Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Peru, Byron, Mexico, Roxbury, Rumford and Hanover.

To arrive at the $35 million figure, which is the first increase since former SADs 39, 21 and 43 merged three years ago, 29 full-time and seven part-time positions were eliminated.

Most of the the $1 million increase from 2011-12 to 2012-13 is attributed to fixed costs and increased fuel expenses.

According to statistics provided by school administration, if the proposed budget is passed as presented, the following school tax increases would be assessed on a home valued at $100,000: Buckfield, $88.22; Byron, $107.15; Canton, $15.37; Carthage, $101.11; Dixfield, $67.80; Hanover, $111.27; Hartford, $61.33; Mexico, $99.52; Peru, $20.83; Roxbury, $89.91; Rumford, $61.15; and Sumner, $24.77.

Superintendent Tom Ward said combining the three former school districts allowed the resulting larger school region to absorb about $1 million each year. However, the state valuation of the 12 member towns rose about $45 million this year, which in turn triggered higher school taxes.