By MONICA SPRINGER

mspringer@gctelegram.com

At its meeting Monday night, USD 363 board members set a date for the 2008-09 budget hearing and received information about increased enrollment.

The 2008-09 budget hearing is scheduled for 8 p.m. Aug. 11 during the regular board meeting. The budget will be discussed and approved then, Superintendent Robert O'Connor said.

O'Connor said the district is trying to keep the budget as conservative as possible.

He said the budget is set to be published the last week of July so residents can see the proposal and contact school board members with any questions or concerns. The school board is required to publish a copy of the budget at least 10 days before the hearing.

O'Connor said board members are expected to receive a copy of the budget a day or so before the the budget is published.

He said the budget won't differ much from last year, aside from allowing for the rising cost of food, fuel, and utilities.

Holcomb residents currently contribute 39.105 mills to the school district, plus 4.029 mills to the Holcomb Recreation Commission that flow through the school district's budget. The owner of a $100,000 home has an assessed valuation of $11,500 and would pay $496.04 a year based on the current mill levy.

Board members also received a copy of enrollment figures for the 2008-09 school year. The district expects enrollment to be higher this year because of a plan implemented a year ago that allows students outside USD 363 boundaries to attend its schools.

O'Connor said he estimates about 870 students to enroll this year, compared to 830 to 840 last year. He said of those students, about 30 to 35 are transfer students from outside USD 363. The amount of money the state will pay the school for each student is $4,433.

The board also received funding amounts the state will provide for each student who receives special education, free or reduced lunch, or is an English as a Second Language student.

At the meeting, the board also approved the purchase of band equipment totaling $11,849.31. The new equipment includes a piano, French horns, symbols, whistles, a piccolo, a gong and other instruments.