PROPOSAL FOR TAX HIKE TO KEEP DARE APPROVED

Flushing residents supported the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
program Tuesday night, approving a 0.5-mill tax increase to continue
the program.

The proposal passed 843-653.

"I think there's a lot of support out there for that program, and I'm
glad there is," said City Manager Dennis Bow. "I'm very pleased to see
the support."

Bow said the results show an effort by residents to maintain officers
in school buildings.

The DARE program was phased out this year because of the loss of state
DARE funding and the expiration of the city's federal COPS in Schools
grant.