For the second time in two weeks, the Francis Howell School District has a new tax rate.

The Board of Education voted 4-3 during a special meeting Wednesday night to approve a 2011 property tax rate of $5.1352 per $100 assessed valuation.

The decision nullifies the board's 4-3 vote on Sept. 15 to increase the tax rate to $5.1852 from the 2010 rate of $5.0008. During that meeting, the board spent several hours debating whether to increase the rate, and by how much.

Board President Mike Sommer on Wednesday said two board members on opposite sides of the Sept. 15 vote asked him to call a special meeting to reconsider the tax rate.

Member Steve Johnson moved, and Mike Hoehn seconded, to amend the previous decision by adopting a new rate of $5.1352, including $2.2318 for the incidental fund, $2.1721 for the teacher fund, $0.6713 for the debt service fund and $0.6 for the capital projects fund.

Members Mark Lafata, Sommer, Hoehn and Johnson voted to approve the new rate. Members Cynthia Bice, Amy McEvoy and Marty Hodits cast dissenting votes.

On Sept. 15, Sommer, Lafata and Hoehn were in the minority voting against the $5.1852 rate.

Under the new rate of $5.1352, the owner of a $150,000 home would pay $1,463.53 in 2011 school district property taxes. That is $14.25 less than they would have paid under the $5.1852 rate, but $38.30 more than they would have paid under the 2010 rate of $5.0008.

The Sept. 28 meeting was shorter than the previous one, but still had its share of debate.

During the patron comments period, middle school librarian Shelley Hoffman admonished board members who favored lowering the tax rate. Hoffman said the money would benefit the district's students.

"You are the Board of Education, not the board of taxpayer protection or whatever," Hoffman said.

Lafata later responded to her, saying, "We are not the board of taxpayer protection, but we do represent the taxpayers and patrons of this district." He said the board was "moving in the right direction" by compromising and approving a lower rate.

Bice seemed beside herself over the change. "This goes against everything I believe in (about) education and what education should be," she said. "It means I will get less for my kids. I'm very sorry about it."

Hoehn said the $5.1352 rate would fully fund the district. Johnson said the rate would meet the district's goal of remaining "revenue neutral."

McEvoy said most taxpayers would rather see their money go toward local education than the state or federal government, because at least they know how the money is being used.

Hodits said it was up to local taxpayers to fund the school district, as state funding is unreliable. He said the state has cut education funding in recent years and promised districts money that never materialized. By reducing its tax rate, the district left itself vulnerable if the state withholds funding, he said.

"This change, I hope it doesn't come back to bite us, but it has all the earmarks that it will," Hodits said.

Lafata pointed out the district faces a funding crunch after 2013, when a five-year, 20-cent levy is scheduled to expire. Lafata said the district should begin pulling back on spending before the levy expires.

Sommer said the district should ask voters in April 2012 to make the 20-cent levy permanent.

"Then we can plan accordingly," he said. "It would take care of the uncertainty that hangs over the district."

Sommer said the board made "a difficult decision" Wednesday but that the district would "end up in the right place."