(KNZA)--The Hiawatha Board of Education Thursday morning approved for publication a proposed 2016-17 budget that contains a nearly 5 mill property tax levy decrease.

The budget contains an estimated property tax levy of 55.33 mills, which is raise more than $5.7 million.    

Board Clerk Leslie Grimm says they were able to lower the mill levy due to a 8 ½ percent increase in the district’s assessed valuation. 

The Board will consider adoption of the budget following a public hearing at their August 8th meeting.

In other business, the Board accepted a bid for the purchase of a 2016 71-passenger bus with less than 11,000 miles for just over $78,000.

The Board also voted to let bids for the purchase of a full size 11-passenger van.