Hutchinson ? The Hutchinson school board has decided to increase the property tax rate, reduce the district’s cash funds and eliminate several positions.

Interim Superintendent Jan Strecker on Monday suggested that the district cut 31.45 jobs. But the board saved about half those jobs by reducing its contingency funds from 6 percent to 5 percent and increasing the local option budget.

The Hutchinson News reports that the increased local option budget will raise property taxes by about $7 a month on a $100,000 home. It excludes a previously planned 2-mill increase in bond and interest.

The board will also make a one-time $530,000 transfer in special education and career and technical education.

The school district is facing a $2.25 million budget gap, including a $1.3 million proposed cut in base state aid.