Petitioners request that I order respondent to correct its budget figures and mail the revised figures to every district resident. Petitioners also ask that I vacate the results of the budget vote and order a revote at board members' expense. Respondent contends that its budget proposition was proper in all respects. Class status is, therefore, denied. In any event, contrary to petitioners' allegation, a specific budget figure was included in respondent's budget proposition.
Petitioners allege that respondent provided false budget estimate information to the public.
The record shows that original budget information, disseminated to the public, contained a minor error in the calculation of the percentage of budget increase. That error was revised in a subsequent publication that was also distributed prior to the vote. Petitioners, moreover, have failed to submit any evidence that voters were substantially misled by the error or that the results of the budget vote were affected by that error. Petitioners' contention that respondent may not levy a tax increase subsequent to the budget vote to cover the cost of salary increases incurred from collective bargaining agreements entered into after the date of the budget vote is without merit. When a budget is presented and voted upon prior to settlement of collective bargaining negotiations, a board of education may estimate the amount that will be necessary to meet the salary and other negotiated obligations for the forthcoming year.