LAKEVILLE — The town of Lakeville is taking a conservative approach to next year’s budget.

The total proposed budget is around $35.3 million, an increase of 3.78 percent over the current budget of about $34 million, Town Administrator Ari Sky said.

“It’s a basic budget without a whole lot of fluff,” said Town Administrator Ari Sky, who presented the preliminary budget at the Feb. 13 Select Board meeting. 

The budget must be approved by Town Meeting voters on May 8. 

The public safety portion of the budget saw the largest increase of any section of the town’s government, rising 5.1% from this year.

Fire department overtime pay and police dispatcher night differential pay are driving that increase. Town Accountant Todd Hassett said $10,000 is set to be added to the fire department overtime pay fund.

Sky and Select Board member Richard LaCamera expressed concern at the percentage increase of Lakeville’s share of the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District budget.

The school district is projecting Lakeville’s share of the school budget will increase by $913,000, which is a 5.65% increase over the current amount.

Sky said he wants the percentage of increase to be “in the 3% range.”

“There’s no way that either town can handle that increase,” LaCamera said, referring to projected increases for both Lakeville and Freetown.

Sky estimated Lakeville’s state aid could be around $1.9 million, which would be an increase of around $45,000 from the current figure. The number will be finalized after Governor Maura Healey submits the state budget on March 1.

The state aid number could be higher than predicted because Sky made a conservative estimate. Because Healey is a new governor, she will submit the state budget later than usual, so the town does not yet have the official number. 

Capital projects proposed next year include a design for a new fire station, new police cars, upgrades to the barn at Betty’s Neck, a new ladder truck for the fire department, an addition to the senior center, and road improvements.