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The Onalaska School Board approved a $35.5 million budget for 2008-09 Monday night that is about 6 percent higher than the current budget but calls for a slightly lower tax rate.

The school tax levy is expected to be about $12,557,703, also a 6 percent increase over the previous year.

The tax rate for 2008-09 will drop to $7.63 per $1,000 of equalized valuation from this year’s $7.64.

“We maintain well above-average student achievement and below-average cost to the taxpayer,” school board vice president Mark Cassellius said.

The $35,495,362 budget was approved after a public hearing in which no one asked to speak — in fact, no one from the general public attended.

Final budget numbers and approval won’t come until late October, after the official tax base, student population and the amount of state aid all are known.

Some budget cuts may be required down the line, depending on how much the local tax base expands, said Larry Dalton, finance director.

Dalton originally thought his 6 percent growth estimate was very conservative, but said Onalaska’s city treasurer has predicted valuations probably won’t rise 6 percent.

School Superintendent John Burnett also advised that another referendum request is likely within the next year. The district is in the third year of a five-year referendum request that authorized spending over the state levy limit.