You could call it a budget. You could even call it a well-prepared budget. But don’t for one minute look at the Dallas County School System’s Fiscal 2012 operating budget and call it written in stone.

Provided state funding estimates that expect the state’s economy to grow by more than three percent, local school officials have done the best the can to put together a budget they hope doesn’t get cut once again.

After years of proration and other funding cuts, school systems — including Dallas County — are having to continue to operate systems with fewer dollars.

“It is getting much, much harder every year,” Dallas County superintendent of education Dr. Fannie McKenzie said. “It’s getting exponentially harder each year.”

During Monday’s school board meeting, Dallas County School System leaders approved the 2012 budget and in doing so approved a budget that — when compared to the 2011 budget — had fewer teachers, fewer staff and fewer dollars.

Provided state funding estimates, based on student population from Fall 2010, the system expects to receive $20,660,287 from the state, which is nearly $1.4 million less than last year.

With local funds adding to the state portion, the system is looking at operating on a budget of slightly more than $23 million, which is $1.47 million less than the 2011 budget.

“We do have fewer teachers and we have fewer staff,” the system’s chief financial officer Susan Taylor told board members during one of the budget hearings. “This is what we are able to do.”

The actual budget year does not start for the system until Oct. 1. Currently, the system is operating the remainder of the 2011 budget that was prorated by state officials in May.