Now, the Columbia Public School Board proposed a school tax levy to balance the budget, asking taxpayers to approve an addition of 54 cents on their property taxes for school supplies and salaries when they head to the polls on Tuesday.

"The levy increase is necessary due to the fact that salaries, benefits, retirement, and general operating expenses are up," said Phyllis Chase, Columbia Public Schools superintendent.

The 54 cent tax increase would add up to about $102 on a house assessed at $100,000, or $205 for a house assessed at $200,000, or $256 for a $250,000 home. If the levy increase fails, the Columbia Public School District said they will have to cut at least another $5 million from the budget.

Advocates say the price of utilities, the price of gas for transportation, plus the cost of teacher and administrative salaries necessitated the measure. 

Opponents of the measure cite what they see as irresponsible past spending and continuing growth in the public schools. Opponents say 54 cents doesn't sound like a lot, but it starts adding up. The proposal for the levy comes just a few months after the district went more than ten million dollars in the hole for salaries and new positions.

"There was a management issue that occurred last June in which they used one time non-recurring reserve funds to pay for some on going operating costs," said Henry J. Waters III, an opponent of the tax levy. "It put them in a situation where they're going to have to raise money and that's what this is all about now."

Opponents say they want an open discussion to solve this problem.

"I think a lot of people are more or less ready to have a more opened discussion and discuss school priorities and school business in a little more open-minded way and decide some new priorities," said Waters.

Chase says public schools cannot just wait for an increase.

"As I indicated over the last 20 years we've only come to our public three times," said Chase. "Every five to seven years you're in that situation so that is why it needs to happen now."

"They just need to change the process and accommodate questions," said Waters. "The board has not been energetic enough about asking questions. And when here have been questions asked the administration has been, and some of the board members too have been irritated by the questions."

"This school board has been quite transparent in its decision making," said Chase.