Next fiscal year, the Rochester school budget is projected to increase $211,529, or 8.3 percent, compared to last year to meet staff contractual obligations.

On Thursday, the Rochester School Committee reviewed the budget, which was drafted by the committee’s budget sub-committee and Finance Committee Chair Kris Stoltenberg.

Superintendent Doug White said the increase was mostly due to rising salaries. Other expenditures include money to help fund full-day kindergarten. Last year, the committee voted to fund full-day kindergarten classes for students. Previously the full-day program was tuition funded. Students attending for half a day were not charged.

While state grants offset some of the cost last year, White said $81,829 is required.

“This is the difference in what will be needed to sustain that particular program,” White said, adding that last year’s kindergarten grants aren’t available. “After a conversation with state officials we will not be receiving additional funds…We need to keep that in mind as we go forward with this budget.”

In total, $157,609 accounts for salary increases. The remaining amount is tied to transportation costs for students attending Bristol Agricultural High School.

The Town of Rochester is projected to receive about $500,000 in new revenues this year. Half of that is earmarked for municipal expenses. The remainder must be divided between Rochester Memorial School, the Old Rochester Regional School District and Old Colony Vocational School.

The situation concerned the committee, but member Sharon Hartley said it was still early.

“I think it’s really important for us to focus on the budget. There are distractions right now. There are changes going on in many areas of the town,” she said. “It’s really hard for any budget to be crystal clear right now.”

Committee member Tim Scholz was less optimistic.

“If we can’t increase [revenues] close to what’s in this budget we’ll have to start cutting,” he said. “That’s my concern.”

White said the budget draft process is on going: “I know there’s a lot of work to be done between now and when we send the budget to the town.”