Lincoln County School District board members and residents hadtheir first opportunity to review the proposed 2003 budget Mondayafternoon during a public hearing.

Although few comments were made, the board seemed pleased withthe layout of fund expenditures and revenue in the district.

“I feel very comfortable with our budget for next year. We havea good budget, and we can work with the budget,” saidSuperintendent Perry Miller.

The budget includes a projected revenue of $12,635,448 with anad valorem rate increase of 2.78 mills, which met with no objectionin the public hearing.

The district has requested the increase in order to cover a$127,000 shortfall.

“We’ll be operating next year on about one-fourth of a milliondollars less than what we estimated two years ago,” saidMiller.

Miller mentioned how the millage hike was necessary to carry thedistrict’s needs because the district did not receive the fullamount of mills requested last year.

Another notable revenue increase for next year will be theapproximately $60,000 coming in from tuition fees forout-of-district students. About 200 students will be charged $300in an effort to bring more funds into the district.

Expenditures for the district total $12,576,603, with 80 percentgoing to salaries and fringe benefits. The budget includes $200,000for four school buses and funds for building programs and newtextbooks.

“That will adequately buy every child in our district a new mathbook next next year,” said Miller of the $160,000 budgeted fortextbooks. “Over a period of five or six years, we ought to haveour textbooks in pretty good shape.”

The district’s total budgeted revenue exceeds the budgetedexpenditures by $58,845, according to the proposed budget.

Miller and the district’s business manager Cheryl Shelby agreedthat the budget would allow a little extra room for changes if thedistrict got into a crunch. They believe the district will be ableto handle any cuts handed down by legislators.

The 2003 proposed budget will be considered for approval at aspecial called meeting at 5:30 p.m., June 27, in the central officeboard room.