HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The School Board in USD 308 learned Monday that the proposed district levy will be about a third of a mill lower in 2016-17.

Board members met in a study session where Lori Blakesley, district executive director for fiscal management and business operations, was joined by Julie Stucky, director of fiscal management to give an overview of the budget during the annual budget workshop.

The 0.305 mill drop is due to legislative action in response to the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision on the equity portion of a school finance case. This is the second time the mill levy has dropped because of court action on the equity portion of the lawsuit, falling in 2014-15 as well.

The legislative action, however, provided no new classroom funds for the budget. Any inflationary increases in the district’s budget have resulted in cuts to the budget, including reducing a track of classes out of McCandless Elementary School, which saved an estimated $350,000.

The Board approved the budget for publication. A formal hearing on the budget is set for 6:05 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the Administration Center.

Also during the meeting, they formally appointed Tad Dower, Jeff Nichols and Randall Gray to the Educational Facilities Authority of Reno County. EFARC is a joint board of USD 308 and Hutchinson Community College to make decisions on Gowans Stadium.