Lebanon — City voters will be asked in February to approve a $43.7 million school district budget for the coming year, a roughly 1.2 percent increase over the current year’s spending plan.

The Lebanon School Board voted, 7-2, on Saturday to approve proposing a nearly $528,000 budget increase for 2019-20 after a three-hour work session.

A story in Tuesday’s Valley News reported an incorrect budget figure, as well as its impact on the tax rate, because of inaccurate information provided by the school district. The budget proposal includes about $1.6 million in food service costs and grants that were not included in the board’s formal vote, but will be on the warrant.

School officials say the spending proposal is the result of belt-tightening intended to rally voter support for a multimillion-dollar building modernization project, which will also be included on the annual meeting warrant.

“We are coming in so tight this year because we do understand what we’re asking our community to vote on,” Superintendent Joanne Roberts said in an audio recording of Saturday’s meeting. “I really thought long and hard — we all did — about the original budget.”

District Business Administrator Tim Ball said on Tuesday that the proposed budget would increase taxes by an estimated 26 cents per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. That would amount to $65 in taxes for a homeowner with a $250,000 property.

The district still is working with attorneys to determine a default budget. Officials also are negotiating new contracts with Lebanon teachers and secretaries, which will be included on the warrant and could increase spending.

School Board members made few cuts throughout the day, choosing to reduce the administration’s earlier budget proposal by $170,000. About $150,000 of that was slated for classroom and bathroom renovations, while another $20,000 would have helped track young students taking the bus home.

The district’s $29.4 million modernization project also will be on the school district’s warrant.

If both the modernization project and budget are approved, school officials predict a 59 cent tax-rate increase. That would amount to an additional $147.50 for a homeowner with a property valued at $250,000.

The school district will hold hearings on the proposed budget, contracts and bond articles ahead of its deliberative session, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 2, at Lebanon Middle School. The warrant articles will then be placed on the ballot for the March 12, 2019, citywide election.

Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.