EAST PROVIDENCE — To comply with budget reductions ordered by the City Council, the School Committee cut nearly $1.3 million from its 2009-2010 spending plan Thursday night.

“We did it [made cuts] judiciously,” district chief operating officer Lonnie Barham said while explaining the recommended reductions to the school board. “…You see we did not cut salaries anymore. We did not cut benefits. It stayed the same…”

They did reduce money allocated for testing services, technology, maintenance and non-instructional supplies, yet in all of those areas the amounts remaining are still higher than what was allocated last year. For example, the district approved $214,682 for technology last year. Supt. Mario Cirillo’s original $75.1-million budget had $489,682 for technology this year and the adjusted amount is $364,682, which is a $150,000 increase over the previous year.

Barham also emphasized that the district isn’t reducing the amount it will spend on new textbooks and instructional supplies. More than $775,000 — $526,962 more than last year’s $250,000 amount — is planned for such purchases.

“We did not cut that a penny,” Barham said, “… and the money is available now for the principals.”

Finally, Barham said $1.15 million will still be put toward the district’s accumulated debt.

As for revenue, the School Department’s adjusted $73.81-million budget includes $43.5 million from city property taxes and $500,000 from the potential sale of the former Grove Avenue Elementary School.

The total represents a 1.18-percent increase over last year’s budget.

Committee members said very little before unanimously accepting the changes. Barham said district administrators will continue to look for additional ways to save money and increase revenue and “intend to keep our costs in check this year.”

During the same meeting Thursday, Barham and new Finance Director Ed Donoghue announced the district likely finished last year without incurring another deficit. Despite spending more in several areas, the district expended 98 percent of the money it was budgeted to spend.

When they began that fiscal year in November 2008, school officials projected a $4.2-million deficit at the end of the year. The School Committee made unilateral teacher salary and benefit reductions in January that saved $3.2 million and Cirillo reorganized the district and made other changes that saved another $1 million.

School officials will know for sure if the district remained in the black when an audit is completed in the next couple of months. The local teachers union is also contesting the unilateral changes in court. A ruling may come in December.

apina@projo.com