Click here to listen to Newsradio 620 WTMJ's Erik Bilstad report on the approved property tax hike for Milwaukee Public Schools. 

Click here to listen to raw audio from lots of taxpayers voicing their opinions over the proposed 16% hike, which was lowered to 9%.   (WARNING: Large audio file.)

An MPS School Board budget approval will raise people's property taxes in Milwaukee...but not as much as was originally thought.

After a long night of hearing from angry taxpayers, the MPS School Board finally voted by a 5-3 margin early this morning on a 9% tax hike, down from the original 16.4% proposal.  About 1,000 people showed up and crammed into the MPS administrative building to voice their opinion.

"I dare you to have the courage to stand up to the superintendent and say, 'No, enough!' " said one angry attendee to the meeting.  "Otherwise, our tax haul will just continue in this state, this county, this city, and this bloated, blasted and wasteful school district."

People waited in line to get in, after filling the auditorium, the cafeteria, and two auxiliary rooms.  In fact many people left when they were told there wasn't any more room.  

Alderman Michael Murphy was on hand.  He says there's a reason so many people showed up.

"There's really three people reasons leave our city," said Ald. Murphy.  "It's either crime, taxes or the Milwaukee Public Schools.

This was the second meeting of the week on this issue.  Only six people showed up for the public forum on Tuesday, so the board decided to hold this second gathering. 

It worked, as the amount of people that showed up likely forced the board's hand.   

One school board member told Today's TMJ4's Heather Shannon that if fewer people had come to the meeting, the board probably would have approved the 16.4% tax hike.

The School board is also requesting a meeting with Governor Doyle and the state legislature to talk about flaws in how MPS is funded.  It will consider suing the state over those flaws.