Austin Public Schools raised the property tax levy a bit, and made moves to cut the district’s 2010-2011 budget, yesterday.

The levy, payable in 2010, will increase by less than a quarter of a percent. This brings the levy to $5.8. million, meeting the state-regulated levy maximum. The school board passed the increase unanimously — with member Curt Rude absent — after a Truth in Taxation Hearing during their monthly meeting Monday.

The increase will bring an additional $13,561 into the district. At .23 percent, the change should hardly impact property taxes, said APS director of finance and operations, Mark Stotts. In fact, some property-owners will see a slight decrease — between $5 and $10 annually — to the portion of their property taxes that goes to the schools.

“If assumptions hold true regarding market values, taxes should remain relatively flat,” Stotts said.

The district’s general levy will actually see a decrease of $675,008, largely because the district issued bonds to fund future health and safety projects. Health benefits spending will also decrease.

The lease portion of the general levy will see an increase of $152,821, reflecting spending on the Ellis Middle School gym.

Stotts also presented the 2010-2011 budget-planning timeline to the board at the meeting. Though the budget will not be finalized until June of 2010, Stotts said preliminary plans forecast a $300,000 budget reduction.

Though the reduction’s amount and scope are subject to change — based on legislative moves at the state level — the cuts are estimated to be district-wide and include technology, elementary instruction, secondary instruction (including co-curricular activities) and special education.

Stotts said the budget is in response to the failure of a referendum that would have brought $1 million into the district, and a poor outlook regarding state funding for years to come.

Stotts expects more severe budget reductions in the 2011-2012 year

“We’re looking at cutting $300,000, and we asked for $1 million… If something doesn’t change with the legislature we will face major budget cuts next year,” Stotts said.

The referendum, which failed in the November election, would have benefited both the 2010-2011 and the 2011-2012 academic years.