The increase, from 4.69 mills to 5.69 mills, would cost taxpayers an extra $100 per $100,000 in property value, prior to any exemptions. The final cost is even more infuriating because it comes as property owners are waiting for their new county assessments. For many people, that will mean another tax increase -- a double whammy. At a minimum, council should have put off any talk of a tax hike until the impact of the reassessment is clear.Read more: Double whammy: County council must back off its stealth tax hike
Meanwhile, tomorrow could be Josephine Posti's last day as school board president. The reorganization meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Reorganization agenda
The County 1 mill increase may not be legal....its legality is under consideration in Common Pleas...it would appear to violate state law limiting tax increases to no more than 5% in a reassessment year...stay tuned this week...it also applies to Lebo and more than 25 other communities facing 2012 millage increases beyond that allowed in reassessment retainage in proposed 2012 budgets.
ReplyDeleteBill Lewis
Bill Lewis
Bill, this week? Wow, lots happening this week or so. County and Lebo millage decision, reorganizations in local government, and the bid opening!
ReplyDeleteElaine
I have a question... What ever happened to the drink tax money? I see the Port Authority is yet again "hat in hand" and I know a lot of money was raised with that drink tax money?
ReplyDeleteOr is that money in some sort of "slush fund" like the Mt Lebanon Storm Water Slush Fund?
Look at this. I think I just found some "cost savings"/"cost avoidance" for the County:
ReplyDeleteCounty treasurer taking special interest in Greenfield home remodeling job
"Nothing to see here! Move along!"
Jack, I just received my dog's tag from Mr. Weinstein this morning. Since I wasn't sure if he was going to win the election, I made the check out to "Allegheny County Treasurer" instead of "John Weinstein" as requested.
ReplyDeleteAlso, is "Storm Water Slush" slush fund what we would call it in the winter time? ; )
Elaine
So who's the favorite in the the race to the presidency?
ReplyDeleteGiffen Good
Slush fund? You're telling me there is slush fund in Mt. Lebanon? Does that fall under the auspices of the Rereation Dept.?
ReplyDeleteIf so, I'm doing all my serious drinking in Mt. Lebanon from now on! ;-)
Giffen Good
I haven' heard, but with the kind of egos we're dealing with, are consecutive terms permitted?
ReplyDeleteElaine
Wait... you pay for the dog license by writing a check to the treasurer himself, not to the county.
ReplyDeleteNo issues there.
WOW.
I'm betting the PTA lobby is in high gear campaigning for their choice.
ReplyDeleteGiffen Good
That is correct, Jack. Here is the link to print out an application.
ReplyDeleteDog license application
You're suppose to send in the whole thing and you get the dog tag taped to the "official license document." The good news is you get a Petsmart coupon for $2.00 on any GNC Pets Supplement.
Elaine
So, would that be Child Advocate Mary Birks?
ReplyDeleteElaine
Giffen, it appears the "Storm Water fee" gets to be used for things like street cleaning so yes, it has become a Slush Fund.
ReplyDeleteMr. Lewis brought it up at the Nov 14th meeting and the commissioners were more interested in arguing the semantics of whether people were getting hit twice when non-profits and township were being hit. They didn't seem to want to comment on why it was being tapped for non-Storm Water projects or operational expenses. Just remember that when they have to raise the fee because of "unexpected construction costs."
Elaine, you really think its Mary Birks for SB president. If you're right on that and the latest round of HS project bidding, Xmas comes early to Mt. Lebanon.
ReplyDeleteGiffen Good
Mary Birks predicted it on her Corporationwiki profile from March 2011.
ReplyDeleteElaine Gillen