Schools official to brief Tea Party on tax hike proposal

Manatee County School Board member Bob Gause on Tuesday will address what most generously could be called a skeptical audience about a proposal to raise property taxes to help the school district balance its books.

Gause, vice chairman of the school board, will speak at a working meeting of the Tea Party Manatee.

"Mr. Gause will be addressing the issue of the School Board's proposed tax increase now scheduled for a vote at their July 26th meeting," the Tea Party meeting announcement states. " They want to impose this increase on taxpayers to make up for their failure to meet necessary budget cuts, while actually increasing certain line items."

Schools superintendent Tim McGonegal has proposed levying an extra .25 mills to help close an estimated $8.87 million gap in the 2010-11 schools budget. The tax would generate about $6.7 million in extra revenue, according to officials.

The Tea Party meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Honeybell Hall at Mixon Farms, 2712 26th Ave. E. For more information, e-mail info@teapartymanatee.org