Manatee school board approves tax increase

The Manatee County School Board Monday night approved a critical needs property tax assessment and paved the way for voters to approve the increase for the 2011/2012 school year in November.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of enacting a quarter-mill “critical needs” tax that is being allowed by the state legislature. The increase for this school year was offset by a quarter-mill decrease in millage for capital projects.

Superintendent Tim McGonegal has said the increase is needed to avoid cutting elective programs such as JROTC, music and other electives, for students, and that the district has trimmed its budget as much as it can without impacts to the classroom.

The school district this year faced a roughly $8.7 million budget reduction after trimming more than $44 million over the last two years. The millage increase approved Monday night is expected to generate about $6.4 million.

 Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].