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.