HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thanks in part to the school finance lawsuit, Hutchinson Public Schools taxpayers will have a slightly lower mill levy to fund the district in the coming school year.

The Hutchinson School Board Monday approved the 2016-17 budget. The mill levy drops by 0.305 mills because of 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, didn’t provide any new classroom funds for the budget. Any inflationary increases in operational costs resulted in cuts to the district budget, including reducing a track of classes out of McCandless Elementary School, which saved an estimated $350,000.

The board also approved the Schools for Fair Funding Engagement Letter.

They also approved the meeting times for the board, which will be on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. in regular session.

Because of the Christmas holiday, the board will not meet on Dec. 26, 2016, and on March 27, 2017, the board will not meet because of Spring Break.