NATCHEZ &045;&045; A few weeks of number crunching and some suggestions from staff and community led to a $323,000 reduction in the amount the Natchez-Adams School District will request from the county.

The ad valorem tax request for $8,889,455 will be sent to the Adams County Board of Supervisors today.

The original number presented at a July public hearing was $9,212,455, or roughly a 26 percent tax increase. The district does not determine the number of mills needed to meet their request. The Board of Supervisors and the county tax assessor will determine the actual tax increase based on current tax rolls.

The $8,889,455 will go in support of district maintenance. The board approved the final 2003-2004 budget and the resolution for the tax request at Thursday’s meeting.

The board also heard goals and challenges reports from the Assistant Superintendent, the director of Special Services and the personnel director.

District-wide goals for the coming year include improvement of school achievement, improvement in attendance, reduction in student discipline referrals and reduction in dropout rate among many others.

Board Chairman Norris Edney asked the administration to develop a plan of action for achieving the set goals and report back to the board.