The Thatcher School Board approved publication of the School District’s proposed $9.484 million budget for the coming fiscal year, which began July 1.

The spending plan, which was approved during the board’s June 26 meeting, calls for reduced property tax rates. Clay Bowman, School District business manager, said the reduced tax rates may not translate into a reduced tax bill because property values have increased.

The primary tax rate is estimated at $2.9995 per $100 assessed value — down from last year’s rate of $3.4518 per $100 assessed value. Money collected from the primary tax rate is used for the daily operations of the schools. The secondary rate is estimated at $1.5891 per $100 assessed value, compared to last year’s rate of $2.1546 per $100 assessed value. Money collected from the secondary rate is used to pay off bond debts.

The combined tax-rate reduction is $1.0178 per $100 assessed value. Assessed value is equal to 10 percent of a home’s full-cash value. The School District’s property tax makes up a portion of a property owner’s tax bill.

Bowman said he prepared the budget as best he could with partial information from the state. School districts throughout the state were forced to come up with preliminary budgets so they could comply with state-set deadlines.

“We may have to throw all this out and start over,” Bowman said.

He prepared the budget based on a 2-percent funding increase from the state. The cost of fuel, however, is one of several unknowns that school districts will have to work with in the coming school year.

In another money matter, the School Board approved increasing the price of full-pay lunches for students in kindergarten through sixth grade from $1.85 to $2 each. The cost of reduced-price lunches will remain at 40 cents per student. Adults will pay $3 for lunch.

Full-pay breakfasts will increase from $1 to $1.25 for all grades. Reduced-price breakfasts will remain at 30 cents per student.