A standing room only crowd packed into the Wayne County Courtroom on Sept. 17 for a Joint Public Hearing .
The hearing was in regard to the Wakefield Community Schools' intent to increase the property tax request by more than the allowable 2% plus the subdivision's real growth.
Wakefield Schools' Superintendent Matt Farup spoke to those in attendance and explained some of the reasons for the increase in the budget.
These included an increase in the number of students at the school, changes in the way state aid is calculated and the fact that Wakefield is classified as an "equalized school district" and therefore receives funding differently.
A number of those in attendance spoke during the public hearing and urged the school board to find ways to cut the budget.
Many noted that in their own lives, costs for insurance, taxes and food have gone up and "we don't have money to pay for increased taxes. We understand the need, but something has to be different."
During the public hearing, Farup talked about the difference in the school environment in recent years and spoke on programs that have been added to enhance the learning of the students.
He told the audience that approximately 85% of the district's budget goes toward staffing.
The one and a half hour meeting was attended by more than 100 patrons.
It was noted that the Wakefield Community School Board of Education will meet on Monday, Sept. 24 to continue to finalize the budget, which needs to be submitted to the state by Sept. 30.
