SOUTH OTSELIC – After budget meetings during which the district discussed the possibility of a 15 percent tax levy increase, the Otselic Valley Board of Education came together last week to approve a budget calling for a tax levy increase of 3.87 percent.

The 2009/2010 budget, totaling $9,056,933, represents an increase of 2.48 percent over last year’s total of $8,837,381.

Earlier in the budget process, the district had feared just the basic cost increases would lead to a budget of nearly $9.2 million. The district had discussed the possibility of layoffs to combat the budget situation, however those layoffs never materialized.

“We have had some retirements and have made some reductions or held the line in program allocations, which have helped us come down from the 15 percent figure we had originally discussed,” explained Superintendent Larry Thomas.