(OSHKOSH, WI) — The Oshkosh Area School Board violated open meetings laws by failing to properly notice their annual budget and tax levy public hearing this year.
The official public notice published in the Oshkosh Northwestern newspaper was not at least 15-days before the public hearing–nor did it even identify that the Oshkosh School District was the one conducting the meeting.
School Board member Tim Hess and Board President Michael Ford discussed the violation before last Wednesday’s hearing.
Hess tried to have the public hearing delayed until proper public notice was given.
The School Board sought advice from their attorney–Ron Stadler–who advised going ahead with the hearing–and approval of the budget and levy–in order to meet the state deadline of November 1st.
After consultation with legal counsel, Superintendent Brian Davis says the best course of action was to go ahead with the public hearing–and adoption of the budget and the levy–in order to meet the state deadline of November 1st.
The Oshkosh Area School Board will hold a second public hearing on the budget and the tax levy this month–after proper notice.
