DECATUR -- The DeKalb County school board voted 5-4 Monday to approve next year's spending plan, which includes a proposed millage rate increase to offset a $40 million budget shortfall, due in part to reduced funding from the state.

During a tense, packed meeting, the board agreed to raise the millage rate by 1 mill. If the full board affirms the vote next month when it meets June 9 to set the millage rate, the owner of a home valued at $150,000 would pay about $42 more in property taxes to cover the increase.

School system administrators said they plan to mix the tax increase with a package of cuts, including jobs and educational programs, to close the budget deficit. Georgia lawmakers, struggling with their own fiscal woes, cut $10.5 million out of the state budget, money that was earmarked for DeKalb schools.

As a result, DeKalb administrators must now reduce their expenses while increasing revenues to balance the bottom line.

Aside from the millage rate increase, Superintendent Johnny Brown's proposed $702 million budget calls for slashing 400 jobs, mainly through attrition.

"All efforts that can be made will be made to maintain current, permanent personnel in the school system," he said.

Some parents argued that the cuts would be too deep.

"We're losing band, art, music and even P.E. is in jeopardy," parent Terracer Earnest said.