After extensive public input and number crunching, the Tahoma School District Board of Directors approved a final budget for the 2009-2010 school year with a $3.6 million reduction of expenses from last year.

The board met July 28.

District spokesman Kevin Patterson said in an e-mail that the budget for the upcoming school year is $64.1 million, which is an additional $261,728 more than last year, a .004 percent increase that is “basically flat.”

“The budget would have been $3.6 million higher without the reductions that the school board approved in April,” Patterson said. “Reduced state funding and very little enrollment growth — which means fewer new dollars from the state — were the reasons for reducing spending.”

Spending was cut by reducing the operating budget and paper usage in the print shop, cutting staff in the financial services and technology department, eliminating elementary and middle school summer programs as well as reducing 10.5 certificated positions among other things.

Patterson added that the district also increased fees for certain programs such as traffic safety education, school lunches, extended enrichment, all-day kindergarten, pre-school, Tahoma Learning Community as well as implementing pay-for-play fees for athletics. This will generate $299,000.

“We also used $538,000 from the fund balance — essentially a reserve fund — to balance the budget,” Patterson said. “Reducing utilities costs is expected to save $150,000 next year. “That’s why we contracted with McKinstry, which will thoroughly review energy usage to provide us with practical ways to reduce our energy costs. This also fits with our 21st Century education program by identifying greener, more sustainable ways to operate our buildings.”

Reach Kris Hill at khill@maplevalleyreporter.com or (425)432-1209 ext. 5054.