SOUTH OTSELIC – After budget meetings during which the district discussed the possibility of a 15 percent tax levy increase, the Otselic Valley Board of Education came together last week to approve a budget calling for a tax levy increase of 3.87 percent.

The 2009/2010 budget, totaling $9,056,933, represents an increase of 2.48 percent over last year’s total of $8,837,381.

Earlier in the budget process, the district had feared just the basic cost increases would lead to a budget of nearly $9.2 million. The district had discussed the possibility of layoffs to combat the budget situation, however those layoffs never materialized.