Brentwood School District's proposed budget for the 2008-09 school year required a bit of belt-tightening as expenses continue to rise faster than revenue.

The school board unanimously approved the preliminary budget in April with the same millage rate as last year, 28.27 mills.

"You draw the line and leave it there as long as possible to give people some breathing room," said board President Richard Briner.

Expected revenue for next year is $17,201,523, up $455,187 from the 2007-2008 proposed budget.

Estimated expenses are $17,581,831, up $583,159 from last year's budget.

"We identify every dollar and put it to work as effectively as possible," Briner said. "We'd love to have more, but we have to make sure we use what we have currently effectively."

Superintendent Ronald Dufalla said one casualty in the district's budgetary battle is funds for facility maintenance and improvement.

The 2008-09 preliminary budget commits $150,000 to facilities. By comparison, the district budgeted $321,000 for facilities last year.

Brentwood's preliminary budget calls for almost $1 million in appropriations from the fund balance. Dufalla and Briner acknowledged cutting into a fund balance is never desirable, but occasional relief is permissible.

Brentwood school officials expect minimal financial support from the federal government. The preliminary budget includes $184,000 in federal funds, up from $165,000 last year.

"The federal government is woefully inadequate in funding education," said board member Regis Englert, the finance and budget chair. "You're not seeing the feds and state keep up with the local expenses."

All federal funds come from No Child Left Behind funding, according to the preliminary budget. No money is expected from federal block grants.

Pennsylvania's most recent audit of the school district lauded Brentwood's use of a grant to secure services from a mental health company, Englert said. Though the company provides valuable services to the district, Englert worries about Brentwood's ability to afford it after the grant expires.

"On the one hand, (the state) says that's great," Englert said. "But on the other hand, they say the money is all dried up."