NORWICH – Norwich’s top administrator is encouraging local residents to add their two cents when it comes to developing next year’s school budget in the hopes the input will help the district shave expenses.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan told school board members that he welcomes suggestions from any district resident interested in offering up “constructive ideas” for cutting costs.

“Those small savings will add up over time,” he said, reading from an email he had already received from a district resident who suggested ways the district could save on postage by sending calendars and newsletters home with kids.

The district faces a loss of more than $825,000 in state aid. Preliminary budget figures indicate that if left unchecked, spending would increase by 4.4 percent next year due to contractual obligations, pension contributions and health insurance, thus widening the deficit to a staggering $1.6 million.

“After spirited meetings with principals and directors ... we shaved a half a million off of that budget,” reported Deputy Superintendent Margaret Boice, who tendered her resignation in January. Boice’s last day will be on March 5.

“We have a long way to go,” said O’Sullivan, emphasizing that he and other school leaders aren’t willing to pass such a heavy burden onto taxpayers.