The public is invited to the fourth and final community budget meeting for the 2012-13 budget.

The meeting will be from 7 to 8:30 p-m, April 2 in the Professional Learning Center at Hutchinson High School, 1401 North Severance. The Professional Learning Center is in the old auditorium at HHS.

During the evening, the group will work on recommendations that will be forwarded to district administrators who will include the work as a budget is crafted to be presented to the Board later this summer.

The community budget group includes community members, parents, students and district staff. The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussion and watch the process.

During the first three sessions, the group learned about school budgets in general and the USD 308 budget specifically. Participants looked at four budget scenarios for 2012-13, ranging from the district receiving additional money to another year of cuts. Based on the scenarios, the groups are making recommendations for elementary, middle and high school programs as well as for support services in the district.

As part of the new budget process, the district will take electronic feedback from the public. A budget comment line has been set up on (620) 615-4014. Patrons may leave comments on the line but are asked to leave a name and telephone number so that district staff may be able to call back and get additional information as needed.

Feedback also may be provided by emailing the district at comment@usd308.com. A “budget suggestion box” also available on the district’s homepage at www.usd308.com.

Kansas K-12 school budgets go from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year. Because the way the district receives information from other entities that impact the budget, however, the final budget is normally not available to the Board until late July and is formalized in August.