AUGUSTA — A proposed $28.1 million school budget, which cuts 18 staff positions, goes to the Board of Education for a vote Wednesday.

The budget, according to Business Manager James Jurdak, is not expected to result in a tax increase for local residents and property owners.

“I think it will be zero impact,” on taxpayers, Jurdak said of the proposed school budget.

The budget is lower than the $28.3 million proposed previously, with about $200,000 cut from a health insurance account because, Jurdak said, health insurance costs increased less than anticipated. Jurdak said the initial spending proposal budgeted for a 10 percent increase in schools’ share of employee health insurance costs, but now the costs are projected by insurers to increase by just 4 percent.

If approved by the Board of Education, the budget would then go to the Augusta City Council for their review. Pending the councilors' approval, the budget could go to local residents for a vote in June.

The board is scheduled to vote on the budget at the meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the cafeteria at Capital Area Technical Center. Members of the public will have a chance to comment on the budget before board members vote.