Lawrence school board members will begin discussing the mill levy for the 2008-2009 budget during Monday’s meeting.

Superintendent Randy Weseman has said it would likely take a 2-mill increase to maintain existing services for next year, because of rising fuel and energy costs and flat property valuations.

But Weseman has asked staff members to prepare scenarios to tighten up budgets that don’t directly affect classroom instruction to create a flat mill levy up to a 0.8-mill increase.

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

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the school district’s headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.