NATCHEZ — Though the Natchez-Adams School District plans to operate next fiscal year on $4.2 million less than the current operating budget, the district is proposing a local tax increase.

A public hearing at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Braden Administrative Building board room will give the public a chance to ask questions or comment on the proposed increase of 1.47 mills, NASD school board President Harold Barnett said.

The district is proposing to collect $11,502,416, or 28 percent of its budget, from local property taxes for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Last year, the district requested $11,121,570, or 25 percent of its budget from local taxes.

However, the proposed budget for 2011-2012 has projected revenues of $41,022,979, compared to the current year’s projected revenues of $45,223,347.

Barnett said state cuts have contributed to the district having to lean more heavily on local revenue sources.

“(The state legislature) cut (school funding) because the money doesn’t come in,” Barnett said.

“(The state) doesn’t raise taxes, but fixes it to where the local people have to raise taxes, and that’s been going on for several years,” Barnett said.

Another factor for the loss in non-local revenue sources was the loss of one-time revenues from stimulus money from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Barnett said.

“Some of the stimulus money was given out and that was a one-time deal, and we knew that was a one-time deal,” Barnett said.

Barnett said the district cannot spend the interest from its Section 16 land to make up for any holes in the budget — a tactic that was used in the past — because the interest is depleted.

The only option is to cut programs or raise taxes, he said.

“We want to provide for the educational needs of boys and girls of Adams County, and when you stop funding programs you’re cutting opportunities out and want to keep from having to do that,” Barnett said.

He said cuts to the proposed budget have already been made. For example, some positions, such as a human resources director, have not been filled.

At the public hearing, NASD Business Manager Margaret Parson will distribute copies to everyone in attendance of the proposed budget and spend some time explaining it. Following a summary of the budget, the floor is open to anyone who would like to make public comments.

The board will vote on accepting the proposed budget July 14 at their regular meeting.