The Lawrence school board Tuesday unanimously approved the broad outline of a $106.8 million budget for next school year.

Final adoption won’t occur until after an Aug. 11 public hearing.

Austin Turney, board president, said the spending blueprint for 2003-2004 was the product of months of agonizing debate by board members and district officials.

The budget includes a 3.5 percent increase in salary and benefits for all 1,600 district employees. That was made possible, in part, due to budget cuts, including more than $1 million from closure of three elementary schools.

“And that’s not possible next year,” Turney said of prospects for shaping a budget for 2004-2005. “Without further state money, giving our employees any kind of reasonable salary increase will require further cuts in programs.”

The spending plan would reduce the property-tax levy for Lawrence public schools by 2 mills. That would follow a decrease of 5.5 mills last year.

A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed valuation.

The new levy for Lawrence schools would be 47.8 mills, compared with 49.8 mills a year ago.

Turney said he wasn’t surprised no community members attended Tuesday night’s meeting for the budget discussion.

“I think most people … feel that their particular questions have been answered,” he said.

The board’s vote to publish the budget was 6-0, with member Leni Salkind absent. Once published, the budget cannot be increased without the board going through a proscribed series of steps intended to keep the public aware of changes.

The budget hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.