The Brookhaven School District board of trustees on Tuesday approved the district’s ad valorem request that will maintain the current millage rate.

Although the 2015-2016 budget had previously been approved based on an assumption of not raising taxes, BSD will now make its formal request for local funding. BSD approved its budget June 30, which called for $8,977,404 in ad valorem funding.

Ad valorem taxes are paid on real property, vehicles and personal property.

BSD Superintendent Ben Cox also announced that the Special Services Department received its audit letter, which was overwhelmingly positive.

“It is the best one we’ve gotten, and probably one of the best ones in the state,” Cox said. “[Special Services Director Brandy Myers] and her staff did an outstanding job.”

The audit had no findings directly related to children. One issue came from the district not having explicit board policies affirming certain state laws. However, the audit found that the department was following the state laws. Cox said they would be presenting policies at a future meeting. The other finding was that four timesheets were missing.

“We were ecstatic,” Myers said. “It was an excellent evaluation, and I can’t wait to share it with my teachers.”

Myers stressed that the audit went so well because of the special services team.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my staff,” she said. “My teachers and staff, they’re excellent.”

BSD Deputy Superintendent Rod Henderson presented the first reading of an amended board policy. The changes would remove restrictions for when employees could take vacation. Henderson said the changes have been triggered by a change in state law.

In other board business:

• The board approved Lipsey PTA fundraisers: sell T-shirts, sell World’s Finest Chocolate and raise money for charitable organizations.

• The board approved Mamie Martin’s PTA to sell Christmas wrapping paper and small items with Southeastern Fundraising as a fundraiser.

• The board approved band fundraisers: sell spirit cards, sell trash bags, car test drive and sell bed sheets.

• The board approved the transfer of $80,000 from district maintenance to athletic activity as previously approved in the 2015-2016 budget.

• The board approved the sole source purchase from Energy Concepts for items for the new polymer science program at the Brookhaven Technical Center. The cost would be $35,315.50.