BEDFORD - Residents will consider the school district's $61.86 million budget as well as several special articles when they head to the polls next Tuesday.

If the budget and all warrant articles are approved, voters can expect to see a 51-cent increase on the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value, or $204 on a home valued at $400,000.

In addition to the operating budget of $61,859,142, which will impact the tax rate by 28 cents, voters will consider a collective bargaining agreement for teachers in Article 2.

The two-year contract will cost taxpayers $729,048 in its first year and an additional $860,857 in the second.

Two warrant articles will address salary increases that are part of collective bargaining agreements already approved - one for custodians at a total of $27,720 and a second for secretaries, clerks and kitchen staff for $44,965.

Bedford Superintendent Timothy Mayes said one of the goals of the teacher contract is to maintain a competitive salary structure.

"It puts money in areas of the salary schedules where we're least competitive," Mayes said, noting that 60 teachers will not see a salary increase in the first year of the contract.

Mayes said teachers are also taking on more of their health insurance costs, with a 3-percent increase in contributions.

"That helps a great deal in terms of trying to keep those costs down," he said.

In the operating budget, Mayes said, "We tried to focus where we're putting our money."

Mayes said just over $1 million will be put into McKelvie Intermediate School, with traffic and drainage improvements and an upgrade to the building's electrical system, upgrades that have been put off for several years.

kremillard@newstote.com