(KNZA)--The new school year is underway in the South Brown County schools and now the district’s budget for the new school year has been finalized.

That came during a special meeting Monday evening of the USD 430 Board of Education, with the Board approving a $12 million budget that calls for a nearly 6 mill decrease in the property tax levy.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Davies says they were able to lower the levy due to a 7.7 percent increase in the district’s assessed valuation.

The budget calls for the district to collect more than $1.4 million in local taxes, with the taxes to be levied $65,000 less than a year ago.