School officials are seeking $404,000 to fund new staff positions for the special education, art and guidance departments in the fiscal year 2017 budget.

Administrators outlined the request Monday night at a meeting between selectmen, finance committee members and town administrators from Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester.

Spending for the overall preliminary budget of the junior and high schools is $18,301,919, a 7.5 percent increase compared to last year’s budget, which was $17,025,368.

That figure left town officials asking administrators to take a second look.

“The revenues from all three communities would not be able to support this budget,” said Mattapoisett Selectman Paul Silva.

Marion Finance Committee Chair Alan Minard agreed.

“Well, we’re in override territory. I don’t think anybody wants to be there,” Minard said.

He was referring to a Proposition 2 1/2 override that allows communities to increase property taxes above the 2.5 percent annual limit imposed by state law.

Data provided by Business Administrator Patrick Spencer shows staff contracts accounting for a large portion of the budget increase, as does a $300,000 spike in health insurance and retirement costs.

Aside from required increases, school officials said the $400,000 for new staff will better serve students.

Specifically, it would help achieve a district-wide goal of enhancing students’ emotional and social well-being, set at the start of the school year.

The number one priority is a $55,000 request for a special education teacher needed for five students, according to administrators.

Director of Student Services Michael Nelson explained that even though those students graduate in spring, the school must provide them services until they turn 22.

If hired, the teacher will focus on life skills and job training.

Spencer said without the new teacher, those students must attend schools outside of the district.

That would cost approximately $100,000 for each student, to be paid by their hometown’s elementary school. Two students reside in Marion, two in Mattapoisett and one lives in Rochester.

“The program and the reason to do it is sound,” Spencer said. “The financial burden is less if they stay.”

High School Principal Mike Devoll said a new guidance counselor and art teacher were also sorely needed.

Devoll said 15 years ago the school had 600 students and four guidance counselors. Since then, the population climbed 11 percent and the number of guidance counselors dropped to three.

“An additional guidance counselor would make a world of difference and families are asking for it,” Devoll said.

Currently, the school has one art teacher while students must take at least one class to fulfill a graduation requirement.

“Our art teacher is maxed out every year and we’re saying no to kids who want to take art classes,” Devoll said.

Other increases include: a $20,000 request to fund an additional late bus on Wednesday evenings, $35,000 for a sign language instructor and $69,800 for two full time social workers.

Town officials expressed some concerns over the budget, encouraging administrators to whittle down the list of requests if possible.

The group will meet again to review changes.

“I know it’s a work in progress and hopefully we can get towards a solution,” Superintendent Doug White said about the budget.