Members approved the 59.848-mill option unanimously during Monday’s regular meeting. District administrators presented three options to the board, with another totaling 60.368 mills and a third budget coming with a 60.866 mill rate.

Board President Justin Sturgeon encouraged other members to adopt the largest mill reduction option and fellow members obliged.

“I think people would like to enjoy that mill-levy reduction now instead of later,” Sturgeon said.

The budget was larger the last two years with the construction of the overhauled Tonganoxie High School campus. The actual rate for 2022-23 was 62.371 and for 2021-22 it was 62.39.

“I like that we looked at different options,” said fellow Board Member Drew Overmiller.

If approved next month, the proposed budget would be the maximum amount the district can spend in 2023-24, though it could be less than that.

Per state statute, the entire proposed budget must be published in the official district newspaper, which is The Mirror. A budget hearing also will take place at 7:05 p.m. Sept. 11 at the beginning of the school board’s next regular meeting at the USD 464 Administrative Center just west of the THS campus.

Patrons can voice objections to the proposed budget during that hearing. The board will then decide whether to adopt the budget as proposed.