The Brookhaven School District will hold a public hearing tonight on its proposed nearly $30.8 million budget for Fiscal Year 2019, which is about $197,000 more than the current budget.

The hearing will begins at 6 p.m. in the conference room at the Brookhaven School District Central Office Building at 326 E. Court St. The public will be allowed to speak at the meeting before any vote is taken.

About 35 percent of the budget, or nearly $10.8 million is proposed to be financed through a total ad valorem tax levy.

Ad valorem taxes are paid on homes, automobile tags, business fixtures and equipment, and rental real property.

Depending on how much money the district requests from local sources, taxes for residents and business owners could increase. However, that would be determined by the district’s levy authority, which is the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen.

The state allows districts to request up to a 4-percent increase. It won’t be known until tonight if the school district will make that request.

The school board will not adopt the budget until later this month.

The Brookhaven School District includes seven schools: Mamie Martin Elementary, Brookhaven Elementary, Lipsey School, Alexander Jr. High, Brookhaven High, Brookhaven Technical School and Fannie Mullins School.