MILLINOCKET – Members of the Town Council are struggling to come to a consensus about the size of the school budget cuts.

In a 4-3 vote, the council this week reversed an earlier position and asked school officials for a $786,474, or 10 percent budget reduction.

Don McLaughlin, council chairman, said council members don’t want to decimate the school system, but wanted to send a message to school officials that they should be looking to cut administrative positions before teachers’ jobs. He said officials were concerned that cutting deep into teaching positions would affect students.

This weeks’ consensus could change again.

Last week, five of the seven councilors indicated support for reducing the school budget cut by $250,000, projecting a total reduction of $536,474.

Later, some councilors changed their minds. They wanted school officials to look at cutting administrative positions before eliminating teachers’ jobs. Some thought school personnel should give something for easing their budget cut by $250,000. Some said it wasn’t fair for municipal employees to give up their pay increases while school employees were getting raises.

Don McLaughlin, council chairman, said he tried to forge a consensus among the council where the school would give up something for the additional funding, but was unable to do so. He re-polled the council again on Monday.

McLaughlin said he did not favor easing the school department’s budget cut without the school giving something for it.

Councilors John Davis and Wayne Scarano changed their earlier positions and supported the deeper budget cut. Davis said he could not support easing the school’s cut unless personnel were willing to give up pay raises.

Councilor Gordon MacCauslin maintained his earlier position favoring the 10 percent cut.

Councilors Matt Polstien, Gail Fanjoy and Avern Danforth maintained their earlier position in support of easing the school’s budget cut. Some said they did not want to impose conditions on the school.

School officials earlier cut this year’s school budget by $250,000 and councilors had indicated support to credit the cut made in this year’s school budget to reduce next year’s budget cuts.

School officials told the council last week that a $786,474 budget cut would change the school department forever. Cuts would affect between eight and 12 teaching positions along with several other positions.

Student-teacher ratios would increase and the school would offer fewer specialty programs.