The Lincoln Board of Education on Tuesday approved a $277.6 million general fund budget for 2007-08.

The unanimous vote in support of the budget came with little discussion.

“I don’t know what more  there is to say,” said Board  member Keith Prettyman. “All the questions have been asked and answered.”

The  budget represents a 4.8 percent increase over this year’s budget but will require a slightly lower tax levy because of an unexpected increase in state aid.

The general fund tax levy is estimated at $1.007 per $100 of valuation. That’s part of the total levy, which is estimated at $1.266 per $100 of valuation.

That means the owner of a $150,000 home would pay $1,899 to support LPS.

Key increases in this year’s budget include: 

* $9.96 million in increased salaries and benefits included in the second year of a two-year salary contract.

* $831,076 for an additional day of school included in the teachers’ contract. 

* $1.85 million to add all-day kindergarten to 13 schools. This is the second year of a three-year plan to phase in all-day kindergarten in all elementaries.

* $897,420 in start-up costs for a new elementary school in southeast Lincoln. The school, being built with money from the bond issue, is set to open in 2008-09. The money will buy books and supplies not covered by bond money and pay for staff planning and hiring.

* $500,000 to hire staff to help secure entrances to schools. Last year, the district added $1 million to beef up security. Half of that was to buy such equipment as radios; the other half was to pay for half a year of staffing costs to guard school entrances.

The district still is evaluating how each school entrance should be secured and has not hired anyone. The additional money will pay for staffing for an entire school year.

* $394,000 for supplies including pencils, paper, textbooks and printing costs.

* $325,000 in increased gas, electric and diesel fuel costs.

Superintendent Susan Gourley also asked the board to consider adding automatic defibrillator machines to all the middle schools.

The board already approved installing the devices, which can revive people whose hearts have suddenly stopped beating, in all high schools.

A consortium working to get the devices in all public buildings has rasied the $24,000 needed to put them in all middle schools.

The board defeated an initial proposal to put the devices in all the public schools, citing liability and cost concerns, but was receptive to a more limited propsal to put them in all high schools. The consortium also raised money to pay for those devices.

The board will vote on the proposal on May 22. 

Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.