I just uploaded the podcast from last night's school board meeting. I haven't listened to it yet, but I understand there were more discussions about closing schools and Jan Klein's $2.5 million budget hole. Here is the link to the podcast.
11 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The podcast recording presented that the board plans to have a preliminary budget in January and will most likely vote “yes” next week to apply for an exemption under Act 1 and Act 25 millage rate limitations. This vote to pursue the exemption and if it is approved, would give the Board the option to raise taxes above the current acceptable limits. I don’t think we need to read tealeaves to know the millage will be going up - again.
Mr. Ostergaard suggested that the community and district meet halfway as a “compromise” of sorts where we pay more and the district gives up resources to make up for the future budget shortfalls, although the currently unknown shortfall amounts will be determined by board decisions around programming, etc.. No one knows what the budget will look like because of so many uncertain issues including health care costs, PSERs, county assessments, etc. A few Board members oppose the idea of closing an elementary school even at this early point in the process without having much detailed budget information upon which to make any such decision.
One thing is for sure; no one addressed the elephant in the living room except to refer to the “next Bond issue”. I guess the high school project-spending topic lost its luster a long time ago. As for compromise, last year’s 10.5% whopper should be included in future decisions – it’s still fresh in our residents’ minds (and recently emptied pockets.) The whole discussion reminded me that the voters always get what they deserve, whether the election process is dirty or not – but that’s a topic for another day.
Snuck into "mommy's" closet and found our wrapped Christmas gifts. Shook them around a bit, and this is what they sounds like--
"Upper St. Clair homeowners may see tax increase Tuesday, December 13, 2011 By Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Property owners in Upper St. Clair could see a real estate tax hike of as much as 1.57 mills next year if a proposed preliminary budget is passed by school board members next month and approved again during the final budgeting process in June.
School board members on Monday got their first look at a proposed preliminary budget, which calls for $63.2 million in spending and the elimination of 16 staff positions, including 10 teachers.
Members voted 7-1 for the proposed spending plan, with new member Louis Oliverio dissenting. The proposed plan will be available for public inspection at district offices until Jan. 23, when the board is expected to vote on the preliminary budget.
In order to pass the tax increase, the school board will need the OK of the state Department of Education. According to the provisions of the state's Act 1 law, the board can raise taxes by as much as 1.4 percent, or 0.337 mills. Any additional increases must be approved by voters in a referendum or by the Education Department, through exceptions for spending related to special education, debt or pension obligations." Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11347/1196561-100.stm#ixzz1gRw2oxH3
One would think that the school district could post the results of the HS project bid envelope opening on the district's website within 2 hours of the public reading for those that had to work and couldn't be present for the public reading.
Nah, that'd be way too 21st century and way too much to ask!
Giffen, The last time I checked the bid opening countdown clock, we had a little less than 21 hours to go. But I don't expect to see the results tomorrow on the district website either. Elaine
Perhaps you are correct in that the voters of Mt. Lebanon didn’t know there was a dirty and deceptive political ploy at work. They probably thought an ethical and healthy competitive race was underway - Too bad for some almost 3,000 voters who diligently worked through the electronic machine voting process to cast their write-in votes and also for those who contributed their precious dollars to what they thought would be a fair competition. The inner circle cliques of Mt. Lebanon haven’t changed much since high school years with the bullies who beat others down unfairly to gain control, but that really will be a story for another day. For all you have done, Elaine, you will be the first to know.
PA describes Act 1 thusly: "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 (PDF), the Taxpayer Relief Act, was signed on June 27, 2006, and modified in June 2011 by Act 25 of 2011. This law eases the financial burden of home ownership by providing school districts the means to lower property taxes to homeowners, especially senior citizens, via the funding provided by gaming revenue."
Notice it is called the TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT and that it has been in effect since 2006. Its not like this has snuck up on the Ms. Klein. In fact when asked by Jame Fraasch ow she planned to meet the Act 1 budget restrictions in future years, she replied that there were certain exclusions or exemptions the distriict could use to circumvent the intent to provide taxpayer relief. Good to her word, she's now asking the district to impliment those exemptions rather follow the fiscal auterity intended by the Act.
Need proof, refer back to E. Scrooge graph earlier on this blog showing the impact of staffing compensation projected by the district. See any blip indicating a change in the financial future. Look at the compensation package just granted our sophmore superintendent. Does this look like a district that is concerned about financial woes! It has been suggested that a compromise is in order. Do not forget the Free Online Dictionary definition of compromise includes: "To reduce in quality, value, or degree; weaken or lower." After looking closely at staff compensation the only ones compromising are taxpayers and students who will either pay more or accept less.
Um, just a little food for thought, here. In October, against my better judgement, I attended the school board meeting. During my time at the podium--in which Sue Rose felt compelled to make faces like a constipated 3-year-old and Josephine folded her arms like a scolded child--I asked very pointedly, "Do you [the board] have any plans to close any school in the next five years?" Mizzzzz Posti replied, in her usual curt fashion, "No." So why is that even being discussed as an option? Oh...wait...this is the Lebo school board. Nevermind.
11 comments:
The podcast recording presented that the board plans to have a preliminary budget in January and will most likely vote “yes” next week to apply for an exemption under Act 1 and Act 25 millage rate limitations. This vote to pursue the exemption and if it is approved, would give the Board the option to raise taxes above the current acceptable limits. I don’t think we need to read tealeaves to know the millage will be going up - again.
Mr. Ostergaard suggested that the community and district meet halfway as a “compromise” of sorts where we pay more and the district gives up resources to make up for the future budget shortfalls, although the currently unknown shortfall amounts will be determined by board decisions around programming, etc.. No one knows what the budget will look like because of so many uncertain issues including health care costs, PSERs, county assessments, etc. A few Board members oppose the idea of closing an elementary school even at this early point in the process without having much detailed budget information upon which to make any such decision.
One thing is for sure; no one addressed the elephant in the living room except to refer to the “next Bond issue”. I guess the high school project-spending topic lost its luster a long time ago. As for compromise, last year’s 10.5% whopper should be included in future decisions – it’s still fresh in our residents’ minds (and recently emptied pockets.) The whole discussion reminded me that the voters always get what they deserve, whether the election process is dirty or not – but that’s a topic for another day.
-Charlotte Stephenson
Snuck into "mommy's" closet and found our wrapped Christmas gifts. Shook them around a bit, and this is what they sounds like--
"Upper St. Clair homeowners may see tax increase
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
By Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Property owners in Upper St. Clair could see a real estate tax hike of as much as 1.57 mills next year if a proposed preliminary budget is passed by school board members next month and approved again during the final budgeting process in June.
School board members on Monday got their first look at a proposed preliminary budget, which calls for $63.2 million in spending and the elimination of 16 staff positions, including 10 teachers.
Members voted 7-1 for the proposed spending plan, with new member Louis Oliverio dissenting. The proposed plan will be available for public inspection at district offices until Jan. 23, when the board is expected to vote on the preliminary budget.
In order to pass the tax increase, the school board will need the OK of the state Department of Education. According to the provisions of the state's Act 1 law, the board can raise taxes by as much as 1.4 percent, or 0.337 mills. Any additional increases must be approved by voters in a referendum or by the Education Department, through exceptions for spending related to special education, debt or pension obligations."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11347/1196561-100.stm#ixzz1gRw2oxH3
MERRY CHRISTMAS LEBO!
The Kids
None of this before election. Bill Hook
One would think that the school district could post the results of the HS project bid envelope opening on the district's website within 2 hours of the public reading for those that had to work and couldn't be present for the public reading.
Nah, that'd be way too 21st century and way too much to ask!
Giffen Good
Charlotte,
You and I both know that voters don't always get what they deserve.
Elaine
Ooops, my bad. Just was informed that the bid reading is tomorrow- not today.
Anyway, is it still too much to ask that the result be posted immediately so those of us that work can be in on the news.
Giffen Good
Giffen,
The last time I checked the bid opening countdown clock, we had a little less than 21 hours to go. But I don't expect to see the results tomorrow on the district website either.
Elaine
Elaine,
Perhaps you are correct in that the voters of Mt. Lebanon didn’t know there was a dirty and deceptive political ploy at work. They probably thought an ethical and healthy competitive race was underway - Too bad for some almost 3,000 voters who diligently worked through the electronic machine voting process to cast their write-in votes and also for those who contributed their precious dollars to what they thought would be a fair competition. The inner circle cliques of Mt. Lebanon haven’t changed much since high school years with the bullies who beat others down unfairly to gain control, but that really will be a story for another day. For all you have done, Elaine, you will be the first to know.
-Charlotte Stephenson
PA describes Act 1 thusly: "Special Session Act 1 of 2006 (PDF), the Taxpayer Relief Act, was signed on June 27, 2006, and modified in June 2011 by Act 25 of 2011. This law eases the financial burden of home ownership by providing school districts the means to lower property taxes to homeowners, especially senior citizens, via the funding provided by gaming revenue."
Notice it is called the TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT and that it has been in effect since 2006. Its not like this has snuck up on the Ms. Klein. In fact when asked by Jame Fraasch ow she planned to meet the Act 1 budget restrictions in future years, she replied that there were certain exclusions or exemptions the distriict could use to circumvent the intent to provide taxpayer relief. Good to her word, she's now asking the district to impliment those exemptions rather follow the fiscal auterity intended by the Act.
Need proof, refer back to E. Scrooge graph earlier on this blog showing the impact of staffing compensation projected by the district. See any blip indicating a change in the financial future. Look at the compensation package just granted our sophmore superintendent. Does this look like a district that is concerned about financial woes!
It has been suggested that a compromise is in order. Do not forget the Free Online Dictionary definition of compromise includes: "To reduce in quality, value, or degree; weaken or lower."
After looking closely at staff compensation the only ones compromising are taxpayers and students who will either pay more or accept less.
What BS!
Giffen Good
Don't forget, Giffen, Jan Klein stopped being a Mt. Lebanon resident in January 2009.
Elaine
Um, just a little food for thought, here. In October, against my better judgement, I attended the school board meeting. During my time at the podium--in which Sue Rose felt compelled to make faces like a constipated 3-year-old and Josephine folded her arms like a scolded child--I asked very pointedly, "Do you [the board] have any plans to close any school in the next five years?" Mizzzzz Posti replied, in her usual curt fashion, "No." So why is that even being discussed as an option? Oh...wait...this is the Lebo school board. Nevermind.
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