The Federal Way School Board approved collecting a little less in levy funds this year.

The board approved a rollback measure, which was required by the state, to lower this year’s levy collections from the approved $39 million to $38.9 million.

The levies are issued on a percentage cap. In this case, the cap is 24.9 percent. The state then determines a “base” amount. That base number can change each year.

School districts estimate a number when they approve going out to the public for a levy, but because levies have a lifespan several years long, it can be difficult to predict really how much can be collected each year.

“It’s the dance of a thousand variables,” Chief Financial Officer Sally McLean said. “You’re trying to estimate six years into the future.”

The levy in question is the February 2008 General Fund Educational Program and Operation Excess Levy, which is a four-year levy.

The rollback in how much the district could collect was actually less than McLean had earlier thought, she said.

The district won’t be hurt by the rollback. The loss should be made up by levy equalization funding from the state.