Tuesday, April 17, 2012

School Board Approves 2012-13 Proposed Final Budget (BUDGET POSTED!)

Last night, the school board approved the 2012-13 Proposed Final Budget in the amount of $80,623,500 at a millage rate of 27.13 which is an increase of .5 mills over the previous year's budget. The Board plans to continue budget discussions at the May 14 Discussion Meeting.

Update 10:15 PM The 2012-13 Proposed Final Budget has been posted. http://www.mtlsd.org/district/budget/stuff/2012.13_proposed_budget_4.16.12.pdf

17 comments:

Bill Matthews said...

And yet - where is the budget?

Lebo Citizens said...

Bill, I have yet to find it on the website.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

It's in the same place as the change order, grievance and PK documentation.
David Huston

Anonymous said...

They all must be having trouble passing *spellcheck*, David, in order to be posted under what must be heightened policy for accurate communications. A second reason may be that they want to prepare strong defense against likely RTK requests.

Remember, "it's for the children" !

Bill Lewis

Anonymous said...

What was the vote? The normal 9-0?
What were JoPo's threats if someone voted against it? SNAFU!!!
Joe Wertheim

Lebo Citizens said...

David, thank you for asking about the grievance, PK, and the change order. The public did get to watch Josephine's reaction when you asked about the change order at the end of the meeting. Totally disrespectful. She finally admitted that the grievance, should the District lose, would be a recurring cost. Josephine failed to address your question about the $10,000 donation towards the feasibility study. How long has it been?
Elaine

Lebo Citizens said...

Wasn't the reassessment going to result in a revenue neutral situation and our school district budget? I still don't understand this. If it is a .5 millage increase, what is the true increase?
Elaine

Jack Mulliken said...

I'm glad we're not doing something irresponsible like building a new school when we can't afford it...

Oh wait, we are.

Anonymous said...

Elaine,

The reassessment & revenue neutral stuff doesn't come into play until calendar year 2013. That will affect only the District's fiscal 2013-2014 budget and millage rate, not the 2012-2013 budget now being voted on for which we will face the likely 0.5 mill increase on June 1, 2012 when the resultant tax bill is to be received.

A District 0.5 mill increase, if approved, represents a 1.9% increase, while the Muni increase will be 14% and the County millage increase amounts to 21% over what we paid last year.

Kinda gives you the chills doesn't it !

Bill Lewis

Lebo Citizens said...

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Bill. So the revenue neutral stuff will be in the same budget as the yearly grievance line item all to start in next year's budget.
I thought that might have been the reason for hiding the budget this year. I guess they have their excuse for hiding the budget for next year already.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Jack,

Aren't you glad we didn't terminate a superintendent and negotiate a teachers contract we can't pay in addition to the HS we can't afford?

John

Lebo Citizens said...

Yes, Joe, the vote was the usual 9-0. I watched the replay of the meeting during dinner. I was doing so, to lose my appetite.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Elaine, not that we should expect anything else from this spineless group.
Joe

Samuel Adams said...

Post the phone number again...And shame on everyone who complains on this blog daily yet won't pick up the phone to report the fraud and ILLEGAL behavior. Look, I was upset for a long time that nothing was being done. Then it hit me that I was living in the same Lebo-centric bubble as the clowns on the school board. The reality is, if nobody in an investigative or law enforcement capacity knows what's going on, they can't very well investigate it. Duh.

So I urge all of you to call the ANONYMOUS hotline and let them know what's happening. Heck, steer them to this website. It's been the best respository of information in town.

Lebo Citizens said...

Once again:

"United States Attorney David J. Hickton today announced the activation of a school fraud hotline where citizens can report suspected possible corruption in public education. Potential abuses include misuse of federal funds, spending irregularities, corruption in the contract and bidding process, theft and embezzlement of district funds, and bribery, kickbacks or other forms of illegal collusion with outside vendors.

The phone line — 412-894-7515 — is being maintained by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Citizens may report potential abuses anonymously if they choose. Once potential abuses have been reported, the Office will work with appropriate law enforcement agencies in response to the information."
http://www.justice.gov/usao/paw/news/2012/2012_january/2012_01_05_01.html
Elaine

Anonymous said...

At the bottom of the proposed budget is an item for $100,000 illegal fees connected with the grievance.

I certainly hope these legal "beagles" aren't the same dogs that handled the Sable separation agreement, advised the board on the zoning presentation and then argued the district's case in front of Judge James.

If so, get your check books ready!

Giffen Good

Anonymous said...

Regarding the teacher's grievance.

How about dismissing any teacher that isn't tenured and engaged in this suit.

Then hiring new teachers at the appropriate Step Level I. I'm sure there are highly trained and motivated teachers coming out of college that would just love to have a position in Mt. Lebanon.
Godfrey Hardy