Last night, the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners approved a tax decrease. Mt. Lebanon reverses tax increase During the Citizen Comments portion of the meeting, residents spoke about the need for increased services, which would not occur with a tax decrease.
"At some point maybe a tax increase needs to be done, but right now is a tough time for a lot of people," Commissioner Joe DeIuliis said. "We've already had an increase in school taxes. Piling on at this point is not what's needed."
Yes, it is a tough time for a lot of people. But our community is deteriorating as a result of the increase in school taxes. Maybe the Commissioners will hold that thought when it comes time for the final vote for the High School renovation project.
8 comments:
Just curious:
What additional services were those residents requesting?
How is our community deteriorating?
Dave, I will give you two links to answer this question. The first is Bill Matthews' comment on Blog-Lebo.
Bill Matthews' comment
and the second one is to the podcast of last night's commission meeting.
Commission meeting 12_13_2010
Dave,
I didn't attend the meeting due to a non-profit board committment, nor have I listened to the meeting podcast. However, I do know that several activities received added funding...beyond that recommended by the Manager...because non-profits representing residents who value those activities pony'd up matching funding or were known to be financially supporting those activities on a regular and continuing basis. In the matching category, the 3 represented physical facilities and areas that have been deteriorating for several years because of deferred maintenance (due to lack of funding), and all 3 were athletic or sports/recreation oriented.
The Aqua Club is donating $50,000 towards a $100,000 + project for the muni pool; Indoor Tennis for Mt. Lebanon is donating $47,500 towards $164,500 in Tennis Center maintenance and safety improvements; the Platform Tennis Assoc. is donating $4,000 towards an $8,000 maintenance project to resurface the original courts...in their present state they are almost unplayable and unsafe.
I know you are not familiar with muni budget details, but you would only have to review the last 3 years of Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)recommendations and Managers Recommended Budgets and compare these with final approved budget details to realize the degree to which we are consciously deferring and avoiding the upkeep of our community.
If the above written evidence does not convince you, take a close look at the physical evidence...take a close look at each and every one of our parks, and the inroads of invasive species that, untreated as it has been because of no funding, will eventually destroy the habitat. Notice the increasing number of fallen trees, diseased and dead trees, the dangerous trees with broken limbs overhanging paths and walkways. Whatever happened to the Parks Master Plan that was approved in 2003 or 2004 ? Whatever happened to the Golf Course Strategic Plan ? Answer...not funded !
Take a look at the increasing deterioration of our 70 miles of streets...we're now funding only 1/2 mile per year of reconstruction of a system of streets having only 40 year lives (does that ring the deterioration bell ?)...sidewalks, curbs. Take a close look at the recently renovated muni building with severly leaking roofs for several years causing severe visible interior damage until finally addressed and funded this year ....the very same for the new Public Safety Center ! Take a close inspection of the Rec Center and Tennis Center buildings for a wake-up call. What ever happened to all the beautiful flowerbeds in the traffic islands that helpeed make Lebo special ?
What about deferring the purchase of obsolete and unrepairable fire trucks ? And Public Works replacement snow and leaf removal trucks & equipment ?
I could go on Dave, but I believe I have addressed your question. If you doubt me, take a 3rd. bite of the evidence apple. I invite you to have private conversations with the muni department heads.
Bill Lewis
Bill, can you explain the Commission's failure to fund these projects (and perhaps others) over the last 5-7 years, other than a general reluctance to raise taxes? After all, many of these issues existed long, long before the price tag on the high school was even close to being determined.
Further, to address the original post, can we say with any sort of certainty that if the high school budget was fixed at $75 million we wouldn't have these same 5-7 year old issues?
Dave,
I like to ask lots of questions because I want to learn as much as I can about a subject. I hope you are the same way. A quick answer to your latest question is, "Yes." Our increased school taxes were for the $75 million already borrowed. Commissioner DeIuliis refers to that tax increase. There are more increases coming. Mr. DeIuliis doesn't want to pile on more. His words, not mine.
Elaine Gillen
Elaine, I do ask questions in an attempt to learn more - especially on these issues because people's comments are often filled with perceptions and opinions. I understand that the Commission's current stance has something to do with the overall tax burden in Lebo, but it would appear from Mr. Lewis's comment that these items have been ignored for some time and certainly long before the SB approved a price for their project. What responsibility do they have for not addressing these problems sooner? It's easy to say we can't do it now because of the tax burden created by the school project. Truth is, certain Commissioners (including my own) have been neglecting the need to do more for some time.
Also, I asked my second question because I know you are a big proponent of the survey that was circulated and signed. That suggested a spend of $75 million. Therefore, I wasn't sure how to interpret your comment that the community is deteriorating due to increased taxes. If I'm not mistaken, you would agree that we would have the same problems even under your proposal for the high school project. Certainly, under the $113 million plan things could/will get much worse, but we'd still be where we are right now.
Personally, I would have preferred a tax increase or at least no decrease if we need the money to maintain basic infrastructure. I'm also in favor of additional fees (like the sewer fee) to help fund those necessary projects. And as I've said countless times before, I'm all in favor of raising money a la the Aqua Club and the Tennis Associations. Too many people in our community have never been asked to pitch in, yet they expect the same level of services and perks that we've enjoyed for many years despite a significnat increase in the cost. As an example (and this is just a small one), I see no reason why the parades and other events couldn't or shouldn't be wiped from the budget and shouldered by volunteerism and private funding.
Dave,
Your questions are good ones and deserve a reply from me; however, to do justice to them would require keystrokes beyond the assumed limits of this blog, if like bloglebo. It would also neccesitate many examples naming too many names of *guilty* parties past and present.
The underlying reasons are not unlike those that also have negatively affected other area enviorns...City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, City of Harrisburg, PA overall...and governmental agencies...PAT, ALCOSAN, Pgh. Parking Authority, etc.
Would be happy to engage in a sit-down conversation with you about specifics on all this after the Holidays, say over lunch or coffee. How about it ?
Bill Lewis
Sounds like a great idea Bill. I would enjoy that.
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