The School Board last week approved a maintenance and operations budget for the 2013-14 academic year totaling $10.7 million, down about $200,000 from the previous year.

Lisa Martinez, executive director of business and support services, provided the semi-finalized budget to the board June 26, explaining that adjustments will need to be made once final figures come in from the Legislature and that the board would likely take another gander at the budget in September.

Martinez explained that the annual budget is comprised of District Additional Assets (DAA, formerly known as soft capital allocation), classroom site funds, federal and state projects and other funds.

Based on the average daily membership for the district, this year’s budget saw a decline that coincides with the continued drop in student count for the district.

To counter-balance those losses, the board earlier this year approved the layoffs of several full- time educators, medical plan design changes, dental plan changes and a transfer from capital.

Several other factors affected the 2013-14 budget as well, including a base level increase of 1.8 percent, the elimination of the soft capital formula and CORL/DAA reductions for state budget adjustments in pre-school, K-8 and 9-12.

Martinez went on to break down the M&O budget, stating that the lion’s share ($7,671,423) goes toward regular education needs (72 percent). Special education receives $1,887,784 with $863,952 going to transportation and $279,787 going to the K-3 override.

The board approved the budget unanimously and will revisit it again before Sept. 15.