The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education finalized its 2012-2013 budget, and the final impact on residents' property tax bills is significantly less than the preliminary budget forecast.

The proposed budget indicated a 3 percent hike on the school portion of residents' tax bill. But after an increase in state aid, due in part to 4-year-old kindergarten numbers, the average home will only see school taxes go up about $8, or 1.75 percent.

"The board has been thoughtful and looking at a balance between responding to our community members by reducing what would have been the expected property tax levy and balancing that with really looking at our achievement gap needs," said Jane Belmore, interim superintendent for the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Belmore also said responsible one-time expenditures this year will add flexibility to next year's budget.�

A 43-year-old Madison was arrested on felony OWI charges following a traffic stop on the city's east side Monday morning, according to the Dane County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff officials said Robert Coaker was pulled over just before 2 a.m. Monday on State Highway 30 near Fair Oaks Avenue.

Coaker failed field sobriety tests conducted by a sheriff's deputy after he was pulled over, according to the sheriff's department.

Sheriff officials said Coaker was arrested on his 4th charge of operating a vehcile while intoxicated and was taken to the Dane County jail.

Madison police said they arrested a man who was wanted by law enforcement and who was in possession of a firearm and drugs when officers took him into custody.

A Madison police officer and JBM Patrol & Protection were patrolling in the Straubel/Truax Neighborhood about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Information had been passed along to officers that Edlando M. Watson, 29, of Madison, had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, and there had been previous unsuccessful attempts to locate him in and around the property, according to a Madison Police Department incident report.

While the officer was running Watson's name to get information about the warrant, officers suddenly observed Watson in the area, police said.

The officers contacted Watson, and when they questioned whether he had a weapon, Watson ran from the officers, according to the incident report.