Staffing needs, maintenance costs, and storm damage are three factors driving a 2.46 percent increase to Marion’s 2014 operating budget.

The Finance Committee has been busy drafting the proposed budget, said committee Chair Alan Minard during Tuesday night’s Selectmen meeting.

“We’re taking our usual conservative approach,” Minard said.

The proposed 2014 operating budget of $19.2 million is just $462,621 over last year’s figure.

“This is way better than last year’s,” Minard said.

Among the increases to the budget is an additional $68,000 to be allocated to the town’s Reserve Fund, which is used as a “back-up” resource for the budget, Minard said.

Also, the fund is used to offset the costs of storm clean up.

Health insurance costs for town employees account for 29 percent of the overall increase to the budget.

Additional increases include $78,000 for facilities maintenance. Of that amount, $75,000 is earmarked for the salary of a facilities manager.

In the past few months, the Selectmen have discussed hiring a facilities manager to oversee the numerous renovations and repairs of town-owned facilities as well as to maintain general upkeep of the buildings.

The facilities manager position would have to be approved by Town Meeting.

The Police Department’s line item in the budget will also increase by $51,000 to meet staffing needs.

Also, the Sippican School is calling for an increase of $108,000 to meet staff contractual obligations, rising costs of special education, and more students attending a vocational school.

Despite the budget increase for the school, Minard said, “This is the smallest increase I can remember since I’ve been hanging around the Finance Committee.”

The town’s assessments from the Old Rochester Regional and the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School budgets will be reduced in 2014.

The assessments are allocated to the towns based on the number of students enrolled in the schools.

The Council on Aging will also see a $10,248 increase for additional staff hours and transportation needs.

“The number of people taking advantage of the services is increasing,” Minard said. “[Council Director Sue Schwager] is doing a fabulous job.”

The Finance Committee will continue to work on the draft of the budget, which has to be approved by May Town Meeting.

Minard added that he didn’t foresee many changes to the budget as is.

“I don’t think it’s going to go any higher than this,” Minard said.

The committee will make another presentation to the Selectmen at a later meeting that has yet to be determined.

Of the committee’s current draft, Selectman John Henry said, “It’s pretty straightforward.”