(KMZA)--The Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has approved for publication a proposed 2023-24 budget that calls for mill levy decrease.

Superintendent Todd Evans said the board took the action during a special meeting last week.

Evans said the estimated mill rate for the former USD 441 area of the district is 44.386 mills and the estimated mill rate for the former USD 448 portion of the district is 39.083 mills. He said the difference between these two areas is that the former USD 441 portion of the district is still paying off a bond issue.

The board will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing on August 14, beginning at 6:05 in the evening at the USD 113 board office in Sabetha.

Also at the meeting, Evans said the board voted to retain the services of the Tenpenny law firm, headquartered in Leawood, to assist the board as they work through the land transfer issue.

The board last month sent land transfer proposals to three neighboring school districts-- Jackson Heights USD 335, Nemaha Central USD 115 and Vermillion USD 380.

On July 17, USD 113 received a counter-proposal from an Olathe law firm representing the three neighboring districts. It gives USD 113 until August 1 to respond to the counter-proposal.

The proposals come after the USD 113 Board voted earlier this year to close the Wetmore school.