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West Bend education supporters win funding victory
Posted: 10/27/2009 4:13:45 PM
After a public hearing in which educators and supporters of quality education fought strongly for fair funding of schools, the West Bend School Board Monday night voted in favor of a maximum 10.9% increase in the district tax levy.
The vote ended a monthlong debate in which some argued strenuously for $2 million in cuts to the district's programs to keep taxes down.
In Monday's final meeting, attended by about 800 people, supporters of education funding significantly outnumbered proponents of budget cuts, and the school board voted, 7-0, to do what it could to protect the quality of education, at least for now.
In contrast to earlier meetings, Monday night's crowd was polite, but the mood was somber. Attendees were warned that, despite Monday's vote, ongoing reductions in state aid could lead to severe cuts in education programs in the next few years.
