There's nothing wrong with the South Butler School Board being undecided at this time about whether to enact a property tax increase for the 2008-09 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

In addition to the operating budget for the new fiscal year, the district is planning a major project — renovation and an addition to Knoch High School and the district's middle school, which are structurally connected.

The board approved a preliminary budget totaling $31.1 million Wednesday evening and, by law, must give final approval to a budget for the new fiscal year by June 30. A final tax decision also is due by that date.

At Wednesday's meeting, the board voted on two property tax motions, neither of which was approved. A proposal that the new budget keep taxes unchanged at 114.9 mills never was voted upon; that motion was amended to include only the vote on the budget.

In the days ahead, as the board further contemplates what its action on taxes should be, it must not fail to acknowledge the taxpayers' right to comment on whatever tax proposal is put forth — with adequate time to express viewpoints prior to the board's final 2008-09 spending action.

From the taxpayers' vantage point, it would be wrong for the board to announce its tax decision at the same time a motion is made to give final approval to a new budget. That would provide no time for taxpayers to give adequate thought to the proposal — and would provide no window for comment for those taxpayers not present when the decision is announced.

For the South Butler board, then, the right move would be to achieve a consensus as quickly as possible, schedule a special meeting and announce the tax decision.

State law mandates that taxpayers have 30 days to review the preliminary budget, which means the board could act upon a final 2008-09 spending plan as early as June 14.

The board's regular meeting date for next month is June 11, which means that the board will have to schedule a special meeting for budget passage later in the month.

Unless the special budget meeting is scheduled for the end of the month, June 11 would seem to be too late in terms of announcing a 2008-09 property tax proposal on which board members are in agreement.

With the time options available to the board between now and June 30, there is no excuse for the taxpayers to be left out of the loop on taxes until the last minute. Indeed, taxpayers should personally deliver that message to board members.

It's important that the board make the right budget decisions now to avoid problems in future years. The construction and renovation project adds to the routine pressures that otherwise would be in place.

But taxpayers should not have a tax decision imposed upon them without the board providing early justification for whatever tax option is selected.

Unfortunately, on Wednesday, the board made no promise that district residents would have early notice on how the 2008-09 budget will affect their wallets and pocketbooks.