State education leaders decided Friday to ask lawmakers for what they see as a realistic -- rather than overly ambitious -- education budget for next school year.

The State Board of Education adopted budget recommendations Friday that ask the governor and lawmakers to at least fund education at the same level next school year as this school year despite dour state revenue projections. That would still mean a 1.8 percent drop in the basic amount of money the state spends per student, however, because of expected enrollment increases.

"This has been a very gruesome, challenging process," said board member Greg Haws. But he said the board already has started discussing the recommendations with lawmakers.

"We've been given every indication they're going to do everything they can because we've been playing ball," Haws said.

The Utah School Boards Association and Utah School Superintendents Association have also endorsed the proposal.

Board member Kim Burningham, however, voted against the recommendations, saying he was torn.

"I would like to support the work that has been done by board leadership and feel some real inclination to do so, but I'm also troubled that it does represent something of a retraction in our role of advocating for the needs of children in the long run," he said.

Recommending a reduction in per pupil spending is "not a good message," Burningham said.

Still, some board members said

they would rather put forward a realistic proposal than an overly ambitious one that might be rejected immediately. Board member David Thomas said lawmakers have trashed overly ambitious public education budgets in the past.

"It's nice to send a message, but then you didn't have a seat at the table," Thomas said.

Board members want lawmakers to keep funding at current levels by taking $100 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund, taking $100 million that was set aside for education in 2008 and by finding another $93.5 million elsewhere.

Senate President Michael Waddoups said Friday the board's recommendations to take $100 million out of the Rainy Day Fund and $100 million from education are "reasonable."

"I believe we'll be using some of our Rainy Day Fund to help out along that line," Waddoups said. "As far as finding the other money, you don't just find millions of dollars laying around."

If lawmakers can't find that additional $93.5 million it could mean an additional 3 percent cut in per pupil spending, said Todd Hauber, state associate superintendent.

The board's recommendations will go to the governor, who will craft his own budget recommendations. Lawmakers will then create a budget during the legislative session that starts in January.

"We've done our very best to shoot at the high end of achievable," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Larry Shumway. "People say, 'Reach out to us,' and we do, and now I think we expect some results."