After rejecting a proposed budget two weeks ago that included a 1.33-mill increase, the Woodland Hills school board last night voted 6-3 to approve a budget that raises taxes by a smaller margin.

Board members Marilyn Messina, Fred Kuhn, Randy Lott, Robert Clanagan, Cynthia Lowery and Regis Driscoll voted to pass the $88,867,230 budget, which raises the real estate levy by 1 mill to 25.65 mills and implements earned income and deed transfer taxes of one-half percent. Members Robert Tomasic, Colleen Filiak and Dr. William Driscoll, who stormed out of the meeting after the motion passed, cast dissenting votes.

Ms. Filiak, who encouraged the board to reject the first millage increase, said she felt the board and administrators should review the budget again before approving a tax hike.

"This budget still has padding in it. We owe it to the taxpayers to go through the numbers," she said.

Mr. Lott and Mr. Driscoll defended the measure, saying the they're willing to approve the budget because the tax increases will go toward hiring special education specialists so the district won't have to outsource special education students to outside companies. Mr. Driscoll also said measures such as the Woodland Hills Academy and extended days for students are worth paying for because they will encourage parents to keep their children in the district.

"The people of Woodland Hills, which is a lot that send their child elsewhere, wanted change and they got change. Unfortunately, you have to pay for change," he said.