The state’s top education officials are deciding behind closed doors how to handle a pending lawsuit against the state over a controversial property tax freeze, the state Board of Education chairwoman said Monday.
Members have never publicly voted whether to spend money defending the lawsuit or whether to concur with the plaintiffs who argue the tax freeze is illegal.
Instead the board has met in secret to direct its lawyers, who are currently defending the lawsuit, said chairwoman Pamela Jo Suckla, who said there has been no official vote on the matter.
“This is attorney client privilege and direction,” Suckla said. “We do not need a vote to give a directive to our attorneys.”
She declined to provide any further details without the presence of an attorney.
Some board members who disagree with the tax freeze – which prevents fees from falling as home values fall – are agitating for a public vote during this week’s meetings.
