Although the Parkland School Board approved the preliminary budget for 2013-14, Superintendent Richard Sniscak emphasized the document will be modified before final adoption in June.

"This is only the start," Business Manager John Vignone said at the Feb. 19 meeting. "It is a mechanical step. It is a state requirement. This sets the stage for months of adjustments."

The $145,703,589 budget reflects a projected 5.76-percent increase in expenditures over the present term.

The greatest cost area is salaries at $69.52 million, a nearly $2 million, 2.89-percent increase over the current year.

However, salaries will decline from 49.05 percent to 47.71 percent of the budget due to various cutbacks.

Since the 2010-11 school year, Parkland has reduced its staff from 1,406 to 1,294. Further reductions are planned to balance the budget.

"We will have to cut personnel, athletics and supplies," Sniscak said. "We will seek a salary freeze from support staff."

Last year, 55 jobs were eliminated, and teachers took a pay freeze.

By reducing intramural sports, the district saved on salaries and benefits for coaches and student insurance.

The millage rate in the preliminary budget is 14.36, a 5.82-percent increase over the previous year. In the next four months, the district will have to eliminate programs and personnel, and obtain exceptions to bring the rate down to a 4.35-percent increase, the maximum allowed by state Act. 1.

The board authorized the administration to seek exceptions designed by the state to help districts pay for costs outside their control.

Exceptions relate to costs of special education and payments to the Public School Employees Retirement System, which are both mandated by the state.

Various initiatives are already underway as the administration moves ahead on expenditure reductions to balance the 2013-14 budget.

A spending freeze on supplies and equipment begins March 1.

The district will see results on tuition reimbursement savings which were negotiated with the teachers' union at the start of the contract which took effect in September.

Since the new gas line was installed, Parkland expects to decrease the utility bill by $400,000 in the first year of service.

On the other side of the issue, administrators anticipate about $2 million in assessment appeals, which will lower revenue for the district, if the applicants are successful.

Sniscak commended district personnel for their cooperation in dealing with budget cuts.

He noted more staff reductions are planned for the coming year, causing class sizes to increase and courses and program offerings to decrease.

"We continually seek cost savings, Sniscak said. "We will work hard to bring in a responsible final budget."