According to Meridian Public Schools officials, there will be no school tax hike for Meridian taxpayers.

Officials disputed previous reports about the proposed budget for 2008-2009. At the Thursday board meeting, the district said the $80 million-plus budget, which includes a bond issue, will not increase taxes.

"The budget will contain any kind of a tax increase. The levy for the bond issue is already owed and we will be levying the same 54.4 mills that we levied in the current year," said MPS chief fiscal officer Linda Hill.

Hill said the budget is awaiting the board's approval. She said that decision will be made during the regularly scheduled board meeting July 21.