SILVER LAKE — The unionization of 24 Riverview School support staff employees could cost the district $500,000 in increased salary and benefits, according to a school official.

School Board president Jim Walker said this initial proposal, which represents a 92 percent increase over what the district currently provides for salaries and benefits to these employees, comes at a time the district is faced with a $170,000 budget shortfall and the need to lay off two teachers and a guidance counselor

“At a time of great economic uncertainty, they are coming in and asking for a pretty impressive increase,” Walker said.

Rick Moore, of Southern Lakes United Educators, is representing the employees, which include secretarial staff, the school nurse, the computer assistant, teacher aides, kitchen staff, custodian, and maintenance staff. He said the proposed salaries are based on comparable salary and benefit levels of support staff from 19 area union locals.

“Those numbers are certainly higher than they are paying, but we didn’t pull the numbers out of the air,” Moore said. “This shows how far behind they are compared to other unionized support staff groups.”

With regard to the idea employees have chosen a poor time to unionize and seek pay increases, Moore said, “Employees have a right to have a collective voice regardless of economic times.”

The employees initially voted to unionize last October.

The proposal from the support staff also converts salaried employees to hourly employees and gives health insurance benefits to part-time and full-time employees, he said.

Given the estimate, the district presented its counter proposal Monday minus a salary schedule altogether — at least for now.

Administrator Todd LeRoy said the district is also seeking requests for proposals from outside companies that could provide custodial and food service services to the district.

“We are looking at many different ways to cut the budget,” LeRoy said. “We may find our people are the best deal.”

Moore said he is confident the two sides will be able to find common ground.

“We realize the two sides have a lot of work ahead of them,” Moore said.