Lawrence school board members tonight will consider a slight mill levy decrease, rather than a 3-mill increase the board has discussed the last few weeks, Superintendent Randy Weseman said this afternoon.

The district has been able to keep costs for its ongoing, bond-funded construction projects, including building a new South Junior High, at or under budget, he said. That would allow the school district to decrease its bond and interest and capital outlay levies.

“We’ve been fortunate. And through good management from our facilities side, we’re able to pass these benefits on to the taxpayers,” Weseman said.

The decreases would offset a recommended increase to the local option budget, which must remain at 30 percent of the district’s general fund.

Board members are scheduled to discuss the budget during their meeting tonight, which begins at 7. A public hearing will be Aug. 13.

Under the earlier proposed property tax increase, the owner of a $150,000 home in the Lawrence district would have seen an annual increase of about $50, and total annual taxes to the district of about $1,000. A mill is $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Also today, a negotiation session between district and teacher representatives revealed the two sides still were about $1.2 million apart and not near an agreement.

Negotiators with the Lawrence Education Association proposed a $2.2 million increase in the salary schedule proposal, an increase of 5.87 percent from the 2006-2007 schedule.

School district negotiators offered a pool of about an extra $1.3 million to be used for salaries and other benefits.

Kim Bodensteiner, the district’s lead negotiator, said the two sides are about $1.2 million apart because the LEA proposal does not include the extra benefits.

The sides have reached agreements on other major issues, including drafting a memo of understanding on how to study changes to early retirement. The main disagreement on salaries involves each side’s interpretation of how much new funding should benefit teacher salaries, as district negotiators say some of that funding will fit other needs.

“There’s no reason for your proposal to be where it is, and I just don’t understand it,” said Kelly Barker, the LEA’s lead negotiator.

Bodensteiner said district negotiators have reached the limit on what they can offer and pointed to teacher salary increases during the last few years.

Bodensteiner is expected to brief board members tonight on the negotiations, and the two sides are scheduled to resume negotiations Friday afternoon.