The Lawrence school board will plan its 2005-06 budget with the maximum amount of revenue, though the board has yet to decide how high it will raise taxes.

That depends partly on the results of continuing salary negotiations with the Lawrence Education Assn.

In a meeting set for 12:30 p.m. today, the LEA is expected to make its proposal for salary increases.

The board on Monday postponed deciding how much it would raise local property taxes.

“Our processes are incomplete, so we can’t get to the top figure,” Supt. Randy Weseman said.

The board opted to move forward with its highest possible budget figures. This allows them to plan as freely as possible.

“If you budget for the maximum, you have available all options,” board member Rich Minder said.

The Kansas Supreme Court earlier this month gave its OK to a provision in the school finance law to increase the limit on school districts’ local option budgets, or LOBs. Under the change, an LOB can now account for 27 percent of a district’s general fund, up from 25 percent.

The board also can raise the taxes from 6 to 8 mills for its capital outlay fund, which is used for facilities and replacing and purchasing equipment.

Currently, the owner of a $100,000 home pays $491 in taxes. If the board raises taxes to its maximum ability, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $578.

But nothing is set yet for Lawrence schools, and the board can change its plans and opt not to raise taxes to the district’s limit.

“There’s still room for discussion,” said Kathy Johnson, the district’s finance director.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Minder told the board he was enrolling his son in private school for kindergarten. The private school would offer a full-day program, rather than the school district’s part-day program.

Budget cuts forced the district to scale back its kindergarten program. Minder said he hoped the district could return to all-day kindergarten schedule.

“We do this with regret,” he said.