HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On Monday, the Hutchinson Public School’s Board of Education took its first look at a 2018-19 budget that keeps the mill levy for district taxpayers relatively unchanged.

The 2018-19 budget totals $89,154,327 on taxes levied of $11,450,501. The budget numbers will provide a slight decrease of 0.106 mills of 54.877.

The board later set the formal hearing for the 2018-19 budget for August 27 at 5:55 p.m. at the Administration Center.

The board also approved a $1-per-hour wage increase across the wage scale for all classified employees. Superintendent Dr. Gary Price had been pushing for such an increase in an effort to keep hourly staff in place, especially those who are on nine-month contracts.

Pay for licensed staff and administrators have not been set for 2018-19.