Reynolds school board has more fine tuning to do before they can pass a preliminary budget May 30.

Maddox Stokes, head of the finance committee, said the district's expenditures are still being reviewed and he expects the preliminary budget will change after it is passed.

Projections set next year's budget at a little less than $15 million, he said. But tough times in the local economy are hitting the district in the revenue end.

The district expects to lose about $35,000 in revenue -- about è-mill in taxes -- from job cuts at Werner Co. "We're not sure how much we've lost with Damascus, but it all adds up there," Stokes said.

Werner Co., Sugar Grove Township, recently announced the impending lay off of 500 workers. The closing of Damascus Bishop Tube Co, Pymatuning Township, also affects the district's bottom line.

Unexpected health care costs have also crept up on the heels of last year's difficult budget season, when the district discovered it faced a deficit of $2 million.

The district implemented a budget freeze in early March. Directors are looking at cutting costs on supplies and books, Stokes said. The committee is also looking at staffing levels.

"We're looking at health care costs very carefully. We're looking at technology very carefully,..." he said. "We have a lot to consider as we put this budget together," Stokes said.

"Pay-to-play," is one way the board is considering in order to cut back on expenditures, Stokes said. School Director Daniel S. McBride, head of the athletic committee, said the district isn't likely to start charging student athletes in the near future.

Mary M. Ammann, district business manager, said the district is up to date on its bills, but it's the time of the year when tax money is beginning to dwindle.

"Everything is being bought on an as-needed basis," she said. "We're keeping a tight watch."

Superintendent Anthony Trosan said they are also preparing cash flow documents that could allow the district to get state subsidy money earlier than usual in order to meet bills.

"It's a tight situation," Trosan said.

The finance committee plans to meet April 30 to review expenditures and to figure what can be trimmed.

"We'll see on the 30th what kinds of gaps we may have," Trosan said.