SEEKONK — A “calamity.”

That’s what Board of Selectmen chairman Robert L. Richardson envisions if the School Committee next week approves a proposed teachers contract that he said will dramatically impact the town’s finances — especially given the state’s fiscal crunch and a referendum that, if approved in November, could repeal the Massachusetts income tax and reduce state aid to cities and towns.

A generous Seekonk teachers contract could have a domino effect, Richardson said. The town, now in contract talks with its seven municipal unions, would likely be forced to provide the same raises to those unions as the school system gives its teachers, Richardson said. “It’s like if you have two little kids at home. If you give one a lollipop, you have to give the other one a lollipop,” he said.

The town has targeted what it could spend on all of the bargaining agreements — $1.2 million over three years, Richardson said. But, he said after the board meeting, the proposal on the table for Seekonk’s teachers would push that figure to $2.4 million over three years.

Selectman Michael H. Brady called that potential “catastrophic.”

The School Department has not yet released figures on the potential three-year contract, which the teachers union is scheduled to ratify on Tuesday. Richardson also declined last night to identify the proposed pay-hike percentages.

But Schools Supt. Emile Chevrette, reached last night, said Richardson’s figures are incorrect. The proposed contracts for all school system employees would amount to just over $2 million over three years, he said.

Chevrette also noted that the school district has returned $500,000 to the town over the last two fiscal years in money it saved in its operating budget.

“We discussed our turning over money to them,” Chevrette said last night. “They [the selectmen] assured us that if we returned the money, they would support us when we requested additional money on the Town Meeting floor for contracts. They’ve had a change of heart. They’re reconsidering because they know they are in arbitration [on three municipal contract talks] and everyone’s waiting for what the teachers contract will be. We could have chosen to spend that $500,000, but we didn’t.”

Richardson issued a call to action last night, urging the public to attend Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, set for 7 p.m. at the high school.

“The impact you will see will be very dramatic,” Richardson said of the proposed teachers contract. “We have a certain number we’re looking at and trying to get it. We feel we can afford it, but I’m going to be honest with you: Even with that number, we might be impacted. We may have to make cuts…

“If they [the school board] positively vote for it, the town side is going to be forced to give that to all of our unions,” Richardson continued. “That’s going to have a major impact across the town. I don’t know how to express this: It’s going to cause a calamity, to be very honest with you. The three-year numbers are staggering. I’m asking you as the public to get off your couch and go to the School Committee meeting that night. Because if you’re sitting at home, you’re going to get what you get.”

“There are two sides to every story,” Chevrette replied. “They had their say [last night]; the School Committee will have its say on Tuesday night.”

Neither the schools’ nor the town’s fiscal 2009 budgets includes money for employee raises. Residents at the fall Town Meeting would have to approve the agreements, and any raises would have to be funded through “free cash,” leftover money that was budgeted but not spent last fiscal year, officials said. If there’s not enough money, staff cuts are likely, Richardson said.

Brady went on record with his opposition to using a tax override to pay for salary increases.

“I will never, ever, vote to allow any question on the ballot to fund raises,” Brady said. “The only place that we will be able to cut a significant amount of money is personnel, and that will trouble me greatly.”

mwims@projo.com