If a proposed 2003-04 budget for Wilmington Area School District is adopted in its present state, school board members will have to look for ways to cover a 5.88 percent increase in spending.

School board members introduced the spending plan Monday evening and are still deciding how to finance it.

According to a preliminary budget fact sheet provided by the superintendent's office, the projected budget is $14,364,455 -- $798,326 higher than this year's plan.