The Board discussed using a combination of cost reductions, increased revenues and use of fund balance to balance the budget. After much discussion, the consensus of the Board was to look at the use of $500,000-$1 million in fund balance and a millage increase of approximately a mill and a half. (Saved in Google Docs)
A MLSD 1.0 mill is equivalent to about $2.6 million. 0.55 mills = about $1.43 million. 1.50 mills = about $3.9 million.
Last year at this time, the school board hosted a School District Budget Forum on April 2, 2013. You may remember that is when Elaine Cappucci was rude to Bill Matthews and me. Jo Posti called me a liar. See:
No way! UPDATED 2x
As promised, more on the budget forum Bill Matthews' presentation
I had it right, Josephine.
So while the Municipality is appealing assessments, the School District is secretly pulling a fast one while they talk about fake budgets. No school district budget forums this year. Welcome to Mt. Lebanon!
Update March 30, 2014 12:40 PM The website has been updated to read:
The Board discussed using a combination of cost reductions, increased revenues and use of fund balance to balance the budget. After much discussion, the consensus of the Board was to look at the use of $500,000-$1 million in fund balance and a millage increase of approximately half a mill.
Oops. It was just another typo by our highly paid Director of Communications. A mill and a half vs. half a mill. What's the difference? Same same. I never heard back from any school board director.
Update March 30, 2014 12:40 PM The website has been updated to read:
The Board discussed using a combination of cost reductions, increased revenues and use of fund balance to balance the budget. After much discussion, the consensus of the Board was to look at the use of $500,000-$1 million in fund balance and a millage increase of approximately half a mill.
Oops. It was just another typo by our highly paid Director of Communications. A mill and a half vs. half a mill. What's the difference? Same same. I never heard back from any school board director.
59 comments:
Yes, I saw this Elaine - I am getting slammed on the reassessment, and now we are getting slammed on a 1.5 millage increase. Are they ever going to acknowledge that we are getting further and further away from USC, Peters, Cranberry - and it's getting to the point where Mt Lebo is going to be an undesirable neighborhood? I mean seriously - I pay a good $5k more A YEAR than these very comparable neighborhoods. Is this a done deal, or is there any way to raise hell?
According to the budget timeline, here are the meeting dates. Budget timeline
Our friendly school board has eliminated the annual separate school district budget forum and have instead, incorporated it into regular school board meetings. This is just another step backwards. We used to have audit and finance committee meetings. Those are long gone.
Elaine
Elaine, from your link to the budget—
"Business Director Janice Klein presented an overview of the 2014-15 Budget to the School Board at the March 10 Discussion meeting. Even though it is still early in the budget development process, Ms. Klein outlined the major issues facing the District in the coming year. As is the case with most school districts in the state, the rising cost of PSERS (Pennsylvania School Employees' Retirement System) and the lack of an increase in the basic education funding in Governor Corbett's proposed budget, play a significant role in budget planning."
The lack of an increase in - Corbett's Budget!!!
Just how much money would make Klein happy?
$5 million?
$10 million?
How about just doubling the budget from $88 million to $176 million, would that make her happy?
On top of that, how come with her higher wages- that would be going towards Lebo EIT, she decided to light out for the greener pastures of South Fayette?
I thought MTLSD was a magnet for home buyers! Didn't seem to hold our lovely budget director did it?
relax it's our first high school related referendum. our first of many.
tI feel like there have been reasonable people warning that this was going to happen for several years now. We needed the outrage then, now it seems too late.
Corbett's budget has little to do with it! They need to be using the money they get more wisely.
5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal
FEBRUARY 6, 2014
The 2014-15 Pennsylvania State Budget proposal is more than 1000 pages, but we've boiled it down to five facts taxpayers you need to know
1. State Spending is at an All-Time High: The budget proposal increases total spending to $71.8 billion and General Fund $29.4 billion, both are all time highs. That's a 6 percent increase in total spending (which includes increases in transportation spending and federal funds) from 2013-14. The General Fund increase of 3.3 percent exceeds the rate of inflation plus population growth.
[PAY ATTENTION HERE CAPPUCCI, BIRKS, KLEIN, LEBOWITZ, COOPER & REMELY!]
Despite union leaders' big lie of "$1 billion cut," education spending is at an all-time high. Governor Corbett's proposal would increase education funding by more than $360 million, with more than $10 billion going to public schools.
2. State Spending Exceeds Revenues. The state will begin next fiscal year with $217 million in the bank (so to speak) and end with $27 million—spending $190 million more than revenues. The budget is also predicated on one-time sources of funding, and “savings” from pension reform (which may not happen) and is contingent on federal approval of Healthy PA to spend federal taxpayer dollars rather than state taxpayer dollars for some Medicaid recipients.
This structural deficit is the result of years of spending beyond our means, and was made possible by the federal stimulus and draining reserve funds. Gov. Corbett has done well to balance the budget without raising the sales or income tax, but we haven’t dug out of that hole yet.
3. Pension Reform Cannot Wait: We agree with Gov. Corbett’s call to "pass pension reform this session." Pennsylvania’s exploding pension liability now stands at $47 billion and will drive up taxes both at the state level and in school property taxes (or require teacher layoffs) if not addressed....
http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/5-facts-about-the-state-budget-proposal
Haven't you all been watching TV? All the democrats running for Governor will solve all this by increasing taxes on Natural Gas drilling. One is even promising to give teachers increases on that new tax money. What COULD ever go wrong?
Cut the $400,000 cell phone repeaters and use the old trophy case and we've cut almost half a million dollars from this year's budget!
Those are capital projects. That is a different fund. Just like the municipality, they divvy up our extra tax dollars to fund their pet projects.
Elaine
To keep from having the high school project go to referendum, Klein and company are moving high school change orders over to the capital projects. That is why I have added a new running total in the sidebar.
Elaine
Money is money!
If they have $400,000 to put into cell phone repeaters and $74,000 trophy cases, that same $500,000 can be used to fund education fo the kids.
The District's own preliminary budget shows the Act 1 index plus allowable exceptions is 0.9 mills maximum.
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/budget/stuff/2014_15_preliminary_budget.pdf
How is the District legally permitted to raise taxes any higher?
From the MTLSD Budget website:
Contact the School Board
The Mt. Lebanon School Board is interested in your feedback. Residents are encouraged to email the Board with questions or comments at schoolboard@mtlsd.net.
How many have done that?
Elaine
Here is mine:
School board directors,
I know I am wasting your time as well as my time by writing to you, but I should practice what I preach.
Your budget process this year is criminal. When will you be hosting a budget forum, as you have in the past? Did that go down the same path as the audit and finance committee?
Your website is showing a 1.5 mill increase. I hope to God that is another one of Cissy Bowman's infamous typos. If it is, she needs to be fired. If it isn't, you folks need to resign along with Jan Klein and Tim Steinhauer.
Elaine Gillen
Elaine, These folks are afraid of the union.
Don't forget who writes college recommendations for kids.
Remember who writes scholarship recommendations for "good little board member's" children. Who gets folks elected to the board?
Who runs up the tax bills?
Who decided to teach the test for Keystone Exams?
I believe Sir William commented on that.
9:37 AM You ask how they can raise millage any higher. Have you really not been following this charade ?
The PDE allows, no encourages, school districts to file what Jan Klein has referred to in public as a "fake budget" in January each year for the PDE to allow millage increase limit exemptions to Act 1 to school districts that so apply. Lebo applies every year and receives exemptions. It's all BS.
One of reasons Klein wants to not use a larger portion of the fund balance to balance the budget is that it will restrict her ability to exceed budget increase limits in subsequent years!
Its a game in which she is keeping all the gates open to continue free spending.
Don't miss my latest update. The MTLSD website has been quietly changed to read "a millage increase of approximately half a mill."
Elaine
If a student had made an error like that on a major paper how much do you think they would have been marked down grade-wise?
In today's education environment its like -- ehhhh, shoulder-shrug... no big deal.
Now if we could just get them to publish another cost reduction list. Last year, they only published whatever was above the line and not below the line. This year, we get nothing above or below the line.
Elaine
How many people put their house up for sale because of that news.
I hope no one. We have too many people already in Mt. Lebanon who are upset with the current state of affairs.
Elaine
One thing is for sure, they're not attracting too many people with young children or those contemplating settling down here and raising families.
Sorry to break it to the commissioners their lame-brained artificial turf isn't going to help either.
If the school district is guaranteeing that it keeps residential property values then how come these numbers appear in the 2013 CAFR report on page 125 of 130 in the Demographic and Economic Statistics?
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/stuff/cafr_2013-14.pdf
Average Sale Price of Residential Property
2004 - $235,838
2013 - $190,040
Total Assessed Property Value
2004 - $2,156,859,685
2013 - $2,141,508,681
I know I'm not a TERC math 'gradiate',
but those numbers to me indicate the school district's claims that it keeps property values up don't hold water.
By the way, I didn't create the report so don't shoot me. I'm just taking the time to see if the board's BS stands up to a little investigation!
Plus, if I signed my name would it make the numbers different?
Correction 1:50 pm: 2004 and 2013 values should be reversed.
MLSD has been in financial trouble since we first purchased books from the capital projects fund and nobody saw it coming. Now we are desperate for funds because of the employee contracts the board pushed on ML and the newcomer tax . . . is causing Nancy to suggest residents are mentally ill.
4:00 PM, that was Susan Morgans, a 2009 Great Alumni Award winner, who talked about the increasing number of people with mental health issues who are having trouble with their neighbors.
Elaine
Yes 3:24, I stand corrected, but I think its an honest mistake since on page 126 that start the chart with 2003 in the first row and finish in the bottom row with 2012.
Page 125's chart doesn't show the year except in the graph, which I didn't pay attention to.
Nominate a Great Alumni Today!
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/HeadlineArticle.asp?HLP_ID=1342&HL_ID=1596#1596
Pooch ? Larry ? Birks ? Posti ? Franklin ? All Great Alumni ! hahahahahahaha
If you think we have budget problems now, wait until the district PSER contribution rate rises to 31 or 32%!
http://paindependent.com/2013/12/snooze-button-no-longer-works-for-pa-schools-facing-pension-crisis/
OK, I got the numbers reversed for the average home sales price and total assessed values 2004 - 2013 due to no years being shown on the chart.
But, I've checked and double checked what they show in the CAFR for Total Assessed Values.
2010 - $2,175,275,286
2011 - $2,159,216,301
2012 - $2,164,809,298
2013 - $2,156,859,685
A loss of $18,415,601 in property value comparing Total Assessed Value in 2010 to Total Assessed Value in 2013.
Is this an indictment of the assessment process, a sign that property values are volatile in Lebo or something else?
I finally heard back from Elaine Cappucci.
"I was out of town this weekend and did not check my email. We have received your emails. The error on the webpage regarding potential millage was corrected as soon as it was noticed.
For the Board,
Elaine Cappucci"
No apologies for any inconvenience it may have caused. No answers to my questions about a budget forum. No explanation as to why any of the other eight school board directors couldn't reply to me.
When my husband was ill and we had no income at the time, he worried about affording dental floss. But to the board, excuse me, the Board, it was no big deal. Just another oops. No accountability, no retractions. Nothing. To them, there is no difference between a 1.5 mill increase and a half mill increase. I can't stand how we are being treated.
Elaine
What is the use of sending E-mail to the entire school board if only one person is going to answer?
Josephine Posti started that crap. Elaine Cappucci is the only one permitted to answer emails.
Elaine
Where is the board policy that the president speaks for the board - that's bs unless 5/9's agree with her opinion and statement and approve of it in public - otherwise it's her opinion alone, not the boards, and she becomes the dictator, tyrant or fuhrer
"For the Board" started with Posti. When Kubit was president, Posti was always the one being interviewed, which is how we started calling the PG, "The Posti Gazette." Then when Posti became president, she took it upon herself to start answering for the board. When Elaine took over, she continued the practice. There is no policy. Theoretically, they are school board members at large. They aren't like commissioners representing their own wards. It is a dictatorship. Every day, we lose more and more. Where is the audit and finance committee which was a checks and balance for the finance director? Gone. Where is the budget forum? History. Where is the complete cost reduction list, which later became a published list of "above the line" cost reductions only? Who knows? This year there is no list at all. We have the grievance pending at the same time as a new teacher contract on the horizon. More secrets. They showed us this past weekend that they can print anything they want on the website about the budget and not one school board director even questioned it. If I hadn't written about it here, it would still be saying 1.5 mills! Don't you school board directors even read this stuff? Are you that afraid of Elaine Cappucci or is it that you just don't give a damn? I asked about the forum in my email and was ignored. Just when you think the school board can't get any worse, they sink to a whole new level.
Elaine
11:21, here is your policy, in black and white:
Policy BBAA
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/stuff/policy/bbaa%20-%20board%20member%20authority%20and%20responsibilities.pdf
Direct media inquiries concerning an official District position to the Board President,
Superintendent or official designee, provided, however, that this does not preclude Board
members from providing their personal opinions so long as they are identified as personal
views
Policy BDB
http://www.mtlsd.org/district/stuff/policy/bdb%20board%20officers.pdf
The president shall serve as spokesperson for the Board relative to Board approved positions and/or as requested by the Board and respond to citizens’ inquiries on behalf of the Board
Don't like it? Send an email to the Board President.
1:18 PM, thank you for that information. Policy BDB also states "The vice president shall act in the absence of the president. In such instances, the roles and responsibilities shall be the same as those of the president as stated in the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949, as amended, and in this policy." So while President Cappucci was out of town last weekend, why didn't Vice President Lebowitz step in and respond to my email?
Elaine
Was VP Lebowitz also absent?
Maybe he was there physically, questionable as to being there mentally IMO.
Lebowitz was too "excited" to comment publicly, or possibly distracted by thoughts of filling area jobs with immigrants instead of U.S. citizens.
Regarding Josephine Posti & Elaine Cappucci's "For the Board" emails...
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson.
Ha, what bunk. The scho boards members are elected, not hired. They have an obligation to answer questions when asked. If they want to have an unofficial spokesperson to address the media, that's among them but it's informal. If a reporter or anyone else asks any of the SB members a question, they need to answer it. Again, they are elected. That means they're accountable.
I don't think that you are being fair. The board isn't at anyone's beck and call 24/7. So you have a question at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, you should not expect an answer immediately.
You are so funny, 11:01 PM! Expect an answer immediately? Hilarious! How about expect an answer...ever? I was going to say Period, but that is classic Linfante.
How long should I wait for answers to these questions?
"Your budget process this year is criminal. When will you be hosting a budget forum, as you have in the past? Did that go down the same path as the audit and finance committee?"
I asked them Sunday morning and a year ago.
Elaine
Maybe you should just ask your question without the snark!
I'll bet 11:01 is one of the "What the Kluckers".
Afraid of independent thinking, transparency and open dialogue.
I am not 10:20, nor am I afraid of independent thinking, transparency or open dialogue. I am for civility however, from both sides of the coin.
Oh BS, 11:37 AM. If you listen to the podcasts from all the school board meetings I attended and spoke, I was respectful every time. For that I was heckled, humiliated, criticized, interrupted, told I had hate in my heart, and got the usual eye rolling crap by most, not all of the school board directors. My emails have been ignored for years.
Elaine
Maybe you didn't see my post, I am for civility from both sides of the coin. The first sentence of your email to the board "Your budget process this year is criminal". sets the tone.
The school board directors should be civil in their interactions with you as well.
Elaine, isn't the only one that hasn't gotten responses from school directors. Its been my experience if it is a softball question or suggestion, one maybe two will arbitarily respond.
If it a critical question often times a response will never arrive.
12:42 PM, now you expect me to lie too? Say what you want, I'm done. If you want the last word, be my guest.
Elaine
You consistently make my point for me. Civil you are not.
If you believe it is criminal why don't you file a police report?
No, Elaine 12:55 foesn't get the last word.
You weren't treated with either respect or civility when you played by the rules and presented the 4,000 signature petition.
You were treated with disdain by the board president, no member protested that or the ctcalls and snickering from the audience.
Our leaders are responsibilty for the lack of civility that exist in this community!
If you want to be fair 12:47 lay into the lwaders that have created this atmosphere.
No, no, 3:04 PM. It helps raise their self-esteem. Let them have it.
Elaine
Submitting a petition is the ultimate sign of respect. Bar none.
To dismiss a petition, is the ultimate sign of disrespect.
i say to just give them the house--they are taking it by increments anyway
Does anyone else wonder if Governor Corbett is responsible for the $125 million (yes, we will get there yet) high school project? Shall we blame the Governor for the spending here, too? Sounds a lot like the school board is made up of malcontent teenagers pining that Mom and Dad should give them a car, and an equal share of family income for an allowance, and anything else they want. When does the whining stop and the responsibility kick in?
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