Topeka ? A Senate committee on Thursday recommended approval of a bill that Lawrence school officials say they need to prevent a tax increase.

The Senate Education Committee sent the measure, SB 69, to the full Senate, which probably will consider it next week.

Lawrence school officials say the bill is needed to change a provision in state law that will require the district to ask voters for a tax increase in order to maintain its current cost-of-living tax proceeds, which total about $1.275 million per year.

Lawrence officials have said they are concerned that if voters reject the tax increase, the district also would lose the $1.275 million in revenue that already has been built into the budget.