(KAIR)--With a mill levy that's expected to remain the same, Atchison's public school leaders ready next year's budget for publication.

Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers told MSC News the issue was among topics discussed during a special noon hour meeting Wednesday; and during that time, the USD 409 Board of Education set the date for the forthcoming budget hearing. “That budget hearing has now been set for August 23 at 5:00 in the evening,” Myers said. “This is a time that, of course, patrons, or anyone is invited to attend, as all of our meetings are.”

Myers says past action of the Kansas Legislature has proven to be a benefit to the local schools.

“It's looking very good for us, because as you know, with the Supreme Court's involvement and all, the State Legislators went into Topeka and they did revise the school finance formula, they unfroze the school district's budgets that have been frozen for the last few years. During the time of the freeze, we were growing...when the freeze came off, that did give us additional monies in general and supplemental general, about $1.2 million more.”

Although details continue to be ironed out prior to the required publication of the budget, Myers say the figures as they stand indicate there will be no change between last year's mill levy and the one for the 2017-2018 school year.