The Lawrence school board Monday night voted to approve its budget for the 2008-2009 school year and gave a special consideration to taxpayers while doing it.

Board members enthusiastically endorsed a motion to lower the budget’s mill levy from 8 mills to 6, fulfilling a promise to minimize the impact of the local-option budget passed by voters in April.

“We told the community we’ll do the best we can to minimize the impact of the LOB, and we think we did that,” said Craig Grant, school board president.

Board member John Mitchell said the district found unexpected funds generated by interest that allowed it to lower the mill levy.

“In looking into this, we have had interest income that was unanticipated : and I think we can accomplish what we want in this agenda by reducing the capital outlay,” he said.

At the last school board meeting July 21, board members passed a preliminary budget, stating the district’s maximum financial needs. That included a 2 mill increase in the levy.

“We went from increasing it to actually decreasing it,” said board member Scott Morgan.

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

While the budget won’t be finalized until the district tallies enrollment numbers in mid-September, the board approved its operating funds, which include the general fund and monies earned from the local-option budget, passed by voters in April.

The district also receives funds from sources including levies and the state. The district will receive 0.113 mill less than it did last year, meaning its budget is smaller than the 2007-2008 school year.

Superintendent Randy Weseman said with the cost of nearly everything, including salaries, rising, it is significant that the board was able to come to a consensus on a lower budget.

“In the last couple of years, we’ve worked really hard to spread our projects out to keep (costs) down,” he said.

After the general session was adjourned, board members met privately to discuss teacher contract negotiations. The school district and the Lawrence Education Association are at a stalemate in negotiations. A federal mediator is scheduled to sit down with the two sides Aug. 20.

The board also recognized nine Lawrence police officers who serve as school resource officers. The Lawrence Police Department received an award at the recent National Association of School Resource Officers convention in Phoenix, where it was recognized as having an exemplary program.