The Leander ISD board of trustees continues to move closer to finalizing its budget and tax rate for the 2017-18 school year.

Trustees met Thursday evening and called for a public hearing to be held Aug. 17 for the budget and tax rate. Chief Financial Officer Lucas Janda said the proposed tax rate is $1.51187 per $100 valuation, the current tax rate.

“You could actually go underneath that, but it sets the ceiling on what your tax rate could be as far as what could be adopted,” Janda told trustees.

Estimates are also in for certified property values, and Janda said between Travis and Williamson counties, the district could have $1.5 million more than projected in additional revenues.

“That will help lower the deficit on the debt service side it will increase our abilities there at the current tax rate,” he said.

Trustees also heard an energy management report. This is the 16th annual report for the district, and 42 LISD facilities qualify for Energy Star. According to the report, in 16 years, Leander ISD has saved 1,224,331 million British thermal units in energy, the emissions savings equivalent to 36,521 automobiles being removed from the highways annually.