Thanks to vocal Milwaukee taxpayers, the School Board approved a 9% property tax increase instead of the 16.4% proposed by School Superintendent William Andrekopoulos.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
On a 5 to 3 vote, the Milwaukee School Board agreed at 2:05 a.m. Friday to increase the amount of money to be collected in property taxes for schools 9%.
That was down from the 16.4% increase proposed by School Superintendent William Andrekopoulos. Including the impact of increased property tax credits from the state, property owners actually will be asked to pay 6.27% more in property taxes for schools, MPS officials said. The school bill makes up roughly a third of the total property tax bill.
...Following the public hearing, board members said they were being caught between the needs of children and homeowners, including elderly people, and blamed a sharp decline in state aid to MPS and flaws in state funding of schools as the main cuprits. But none voiced support for the 16.4% increase.
The approved plan calls for spending $17.1 million less than Andrekopoulos proposed, but that amount will come from not making some pension and debt service payments that were in the budget for this year. MPS financial chief Michelle Nate said the change should not cause long-term problems.
Voting in favor of the 9% figure were board members Michael Bonds, Charlene Hardin, Tim Petersons, Jeff Spence and Bruce Thompson. Voting against were Peter Blewett, Terry Falk and Jennifer Morales. Board member Danny Goldberg was out of town, but issued a statement criticizing state funding of MPs and saying he would not have voted for an increase greater than the annual increase in the cost of living.
What great news for Milwaukee taxpayers!
Your property taxes are GOING UP.
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