Hall County Schools’ tentative budget for 2017-18 includes a lower tax rate and pay raises for all of the approximately 3,400 employees, while shaving a little more than $2 million off the anticipated hit to the district’s fund balance from a proposal a week ago. At its meeting Monday night, the school board approved the tentative budget that will now go before the public with three hearings next month before the board is scheduled to give final approval June 26. The 2018 budget year begins July 1.