MARION — The total share of the regional school budget that Marion is expected to pay is  $4,956,053, a 4.06% increase from last year. 

That’s one of the key points that came up at a joint meeting between school officials, the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 26. 

Each town’s share of the regional school budget is determined by the number of students it contributes to the overall number at Old Rochester Regional High School and Junior High School. Marion sent one more student than it had the year before, but Mattapoisett and Rochester were down five to seven students, so Marion had to contribute more funds. 

“We’re effectively giving more than one student’s share,” Selectman John Waterman said. 

In talking with the town this year, Old Rochester Regional High School was asked to keep its budget increase to 2%. Its projected budget for next year will increase 2.06% overall, or 2.5% with changes to the School Resource Officer position, which moved from the Marion Police budget to the school budget. 

Another change in that position is how it is billed to each town. Mattapoisett had formerly been paying for the position, and wanted costs to be split more evenly. 

Finance committee members asked why water and electricity costs were so high this year. 

Superintendent Doug White responded that the school discovered it was not funding the full usage of those utilities and that the money it was hoping to use to offset those costs was not as high. 

In the athletic department, the budget will increase $85,000 to cover salaries for coaches. 

The high school recently raised athletic fees for students, and committee members asked if those fees would cover contracts.  

School officials responded that the student fees cover travel and other expenses.

The school will hold a budget hearing on March 3 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the high school media room.