NORWICH – The Norwich City School District Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to approve a 2012-2013 budget that would see a budget-to-budget increase of 1.86 percent as compared to last year.

A proposed tax levy increase of 1.79 percent was also approved, in addition to a 1 percent increase as part of Guernsey Memorial Library’s 2012-2013 budget.

Members of the board said the process of reviewing and – ultimately – approving the budget was handled much more efficiently this year, thanks to a series of 11 budget presentations offered by the administration at the board’s bi-monthly meetings since the start of the school year.

Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan, at the March 26 meeting, had originally announced a budget increase of 3.03 percent, although he admitted at the time that percentage would likely lessen. Reductions to regular education and benefits resulted in the 1.86 percent increase, from $37,090,193 to approximately $37,780,000.

O’Sullivan added that all activities in the district – including extra-curricular, sports, clubs and other programs – will be maintained under the 2012-2013 budget, as will staffing. Class sizes will remain fairly consistent with last year’s numbers, as well.

And while the superintendent said he’s “very happy” with next year’s budget, the last few years have been “extremely difficult” for the district, from a financial standpoint.