But member municipalities did not learn of the proposed increase for four months.

The board's final vote on the proposed increase is scheduled for May 7.

The proposed increase in the payroll tax would raise $24 billion a year.

Only a small bit of the proposed increase in 2000 would pay for expensive new weapons, the officials said.

But he said the bill could still be changed to reduce the amount of the proposed increase.

So the proposed increase will remain in force only until the other measures take effect.

The size of any proposed increase is still up in the air.

The special education budget will also grow, with 29 percent of the proposed increase going toward those programs.

But the proposed increase is much smaller than it looks.

A decision on the proposed increase is expected in late spring.