NORWICH – The Norwich City School District has a budget for the 2016-2017 academic year that district officials say maintains and even adds to programming while continuing the district’s high standards for instruction.

The $41.29 million spending plan calls for a 1.8 percent tax levy increase to foot the district’s programming and operational expenses for the coming year. That means the average taxpayer with a $50,000 home in the City of Norwich will pay a $28 increase in their tax bill while homeowners in the Town of Norwich will see an average increase of $32.50.

The proposed plan carries an increase in spending of nearly $882,000 over the 2015-2016 budget. According to Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan, the budget adheres to the Norwich Board of Education’s two consistent goals of providing high quality instruction to all students, and monitoring a comprehensive fiscal plan.

“The Board has been working on that for the last 10 months,” said O’Sullivan. “It’s a balancing act between maintaining educational programming and making sure it’s something the community can maintain and support.”

Under the budget, Norwich is able to maintain class size, keep extra curricular and sports programming (and even add new programming), and strengthen teacher support and professional development opportunities.