Fernandes elaborated on-camera about his reasons, declaring that he regarded money taken for school taxes as "stolen." "We homeschool our kids, so we don’t even use the public school system, yet I’m being forced to pay all this money into a public school system that I don’t use, don’t want, don’t need. And I don’t think that’s really either fair, just or even ethical," he said. "It would be the equivalent if McDonald’s were to force vegetarians to pay for their cheeseburgers," he said. "I’m a big proponent of education," he said, but clarified by saying, "Education can be provided more efficiently in a free market."
"You can’t play the game of politics," he said. "This isn’t about politics. This is about morality. This is about ethics. so I’m not interested in going to a school board and asking them for more of my money."
"I hope that everybody out there that’s listening to this, everybody out there that sees this, they start thinking about things. Let’s have a conversation," Fernandes said, who again said schools would be better if they fell under a true free-market system. "I hear people who have kids in the school system complaining all the time. And they get nowhere. Because there’s no incentive for them to provide better service."
The video is almost fourteen minutes long, but it goes quickly. You will probably start cheering for the guy. Everything he says is spot on, almost like he lives in Mt. Lebanon and has a school board and administration just like ours. We work hard for our money and if we don't pay our taxes, they take our home. There is no accountability. We can have a superintendent block us from social media if he doesn't like us, a school board ignore our emails or force us to file Right To Knows for public information, a finance director who buries budgets, school board directors who stick us with renovation projects without a referendum, and for all that foreclose on our homes if we don't pay for it all. I LOVE this guy!!!
39 comments:
For those on mobile devices, I apologize. Hopefully, you can view the video now. If not, I added the link.
Elaine
I think if nothing else the guy says, he has a point here: ""I hear people who have kids in the school system complaining all the time. And they get nowhere. Because there’s no incentive for them to provide better service."
He even brought donuts for everyone who was inconvenienced, including the tax office.
One time, the Dormont meter maid had given my husband a parking ticket when he parked outside of A.B. Charles with seven minutes left on the parking meter. He ran in, had a Pinewood Derby car weighed, and ran out only to find a parking ticket on his car. His protest was to write a check, put it in the parking ticket envelope and staple it shut with hundreds of staples. He attached a note to say that since it was easy to ticket him, they had to work to get his money. The check was cashed with a million holes in it. We were a match made in heaven!
Elaine
Yes, Elaine - you nailed it! Are you sure that he is from Easton, PA and not Mt Lebanon?
Why, I wouldn't be surprised at all to hear that one of these days our children raise their middle finger to their teachers rather than their hand when they want to ask a question!
A perfect example of who is serving whom.
The gentleman walks in to pay his taxes, with legal currency and he has to explain why he's paying cash.
Count the cash and give him his receipt! Tough luck that it isn't convenient for the tax office.
Should start paying for those .25/page responses in pennies.
Paying in pennies would be even better.
Many elected officials do not grasp how taxes affect residents.
Add indifference to safe walking routes, sidewalks, crosswalks, special education and Terc Math.
Not only indifference but audacity.
Imagine charging .25/page to furnish printed RTK request files to taxpayers that are entitled by law to the information. Which, had the district been as transparent as they claim, the taxpayer probably wouldn't have had to make tbe request.
To add insult to injury, paying the solicitor $2,500/request to OK the release... has anyone ever monitored the time the solicitor puts in reviewing the RTKs?
Didn't the district spend $40,000 on software to expedite fulfilling the request.
As someone told us when they requested the HS plan documents... The district wanted to charge them. They then found them available free to the public elsewhere.
"Ignorance is Bliss"
http://m.townhall.com/columnists/richtucker/2013/08/31/ignorance-is-bliss-n1687274
Guess that is why people accept a Superintendent spending the first day of school tweeting, having pizza lunches, watching the construction out his window and giving Lebomag guided tours of the uncompleted renovation.
11:14,
File a RTK request for the dollars budgeted to special education for the 2013-2014 school year and check former budgets to see how it compares to past years. Remember we get an Act 1 Index exemption for special education. IF you get an answer let us know if it really ranks with sidewalks.
I don't think there is anything admirable about this man's position. Communities pay for public school systems because everyone benefits from an educated citizenry. (And while many of you claim that the "sky is falling", Mt Lebo is still known to be an excellent school district. It's reputation boosts everyone's home values.) We've gotten to a point where we don't want to pay for anything that doesn't directly benefit us. It's selfish and short sighted.
In the mid 1970's I covered a story for KQV about a guy who marched into the County Building in Pittsburgh and tried to pay his property tax in cash. He was refused on the grounds that the tax office did not accept cash in payment. I then got a chap from the local Federal Reserve Bank of Pittsburgh to weigh in on the matter. He said "U.S. currency is legal tender" and that the County's refusal to take it was for their convenience alone, and had nothing to do with the legality of cash as payment for a debt. Of course, that was a long time ago and things may have changed down there.
Sometime around 1970 or so an Oregon man paid the balance due on his Federal Income Tax return with a check cast of plaster of Paris, weighing several pounds, and "shipped" to the IRS. The IRS, in a rare case of good humor, duly "cashed" the check, which was sent back to the bank and processed by hand. This incident not only made the news, but was written up in Tom Burnam's "The Dictionary of Misinformation" - one of my favorite books.
It's interesting to note that Mr. Fernandes is being excoriated by "the cult of government," not so much for paying his bill in dollar bills, but for his attitude about paying his taxes. How dare he question the good of his taxes! We see more and more of this kind of thing from our officials in all levels of government.
The famous French economist, Frédéric Bastiat, had the right idea about taxes and their efficacy: "It is necessary to deduct, from all the good attributed to the public expenditure which has been effected, all the harm caused by the prevention of private expense, unless we say that James B.* would have done nothing with the crown that he had gained, and of which the tax had deprived him; an absurd assertion, for if he took the trouble to earn it, it was because he expected the satisfaction of using it."
*French slang, equivalent to "John Q. Public"
1:27 that refrain that the MTLSD is a magnet and keeps our home values is getting old.
Give us some proof of your claim? You can't because you have no way of knowing where home prices would be if the district didn't exist.
Sure its is a pretty good and also a very expensive district, but a recent Pittsburgh Business Journal ranking of W. PA fastest growing school districts suggest home buyers are shopping elsewhere.
Even the top district - USC appears in the fastest growing list at #8.
MTLSD doesn't even break into the top twelve. If its a magnet its not a very strong one.
Demand or perceived value drives up prices. Remember Giffen and Veblan Goods.
http://m.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/slideshow/2013/08/28/pittsburgh-regions-fastest-growing.html?r=full
Plus 1:27 why don't you find anything admirable in this man's position. First he's paying his taxes on time with Federal Reserve Bank Notes that are clearly marked: "this note is legal tender for all debts public and private"
It odd that you haven't protested residents that haven't done what this gentleman has done, submitting articles to our 'official' community magazine.
Who's the one to be admired? The one paying his taxes on time or the one that isn't.
1:47 I have paid county taxes with rolled coins saved up from the previous year.
You can only stuff them through the hole at the counter a few at a time.
They made me write my name, block and lot number on every roll.
It was more of a pain getting through the metal detectors at the door.
Correction:
It odd that you haven't protested residents that haven't done what this gentleman has done, [yet are] submitting articles to our 'official' community magazine.
Before they offered coin machines at the bank, I had to do the same thing with spare changed I rolled.
No problem with that in my mind. They took the coins and gave me my deposit slip.
A good friend of mine, who is a realtor, mentioned to me last week, that her clients won't look at houses in Mt. Lebo because of the taxes. They're looking and buying in Upper St. Clair!
A good friend of mine bought in Lebo because of the school district and the short commute to town.
That is terrific that your friend bought a house in Lebo. I don't think it is a matter of people only wanting to pay for what directly benefits them. I think, at least in my case, I am tired of the sh!t that we have to take from the school district. Not only are we to take it, but we're supposed to be happy about it when we pay our taxes too? If I could come up with a legal way to express my dissatisfaction, I would do it. My only recourse is to blog and expose them for what they truly are.
Elaine
This is 1:27 - I just bought a house in Lebo this year. We sat down and thought long and hard about the taxes. It did scare us, but honestly (at least to us) the tax difference between USC and Lebo is negligible. In the end, we chose Lebo because it is closer to town, has good public transportation options and a highly ranked school district.
I didn't take issue with how this gentlemen paid his taxes. I just disagree that it's "unethical" for him to pay school taxes because he home schools. I don't find anything admirable in his position -- it's selfish. Don't get me wrong - I'm not advocating a blank check. But just because you don't avail yourself of a certain public service, doesn't mean you shouldn't have to pay for it. He chose to home school his children, and now he's asking for a tax credit.
And as far as home values, it's been pretty well established that good school districts help property values.
http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/10/05/Chiodo.pdf
I find it amusing that someone is presuming what I am, and am not, protesting. I have no clue who is contributing to the community magazine. I just moved here. But I am commenting anonymously - so how you could know that?
And BTW Elaine - I totally love this blog, even when I disagree with you!
Thank you, 4:54 PM. It is nice to hear that. And welcome to Mt. Lebanon. I sincerely mean it.
I agree with what you say about the man wanting a refund since he doesn't have his kids in public schools. That is not why I love this guy. I love that he is taking a stand, his own little protest. What can I say? I grew up in the 60's AND remember them!
Elaine
1:27/4:54 I owe you an apology.
I made the mistake of assuming you were one of the reglar bloggers that defends the district and bashes Elaine irregardless of the topic on a regular basis.
Since you're a newcomer you're probably not up to speed on the HS renovation and financing conversation.
I would suggest before looking at anything else you start by reviewing the study of the community's wants and desires on the new high school renovation. They hired DeJong for over $100,000 to hold conversations on the project and get a pulse on the desired options. The $60-80 million plan got the most votes.
We're now approaching the $113.4 million cap.
As for claims that the school district keeps property values high, that is most certainly true. But as you point out, that wasn't the singular deal maker. If it were you would have chosen the #1 ranked district-- USC.
The Business Journal ranking of the fastest growing school districts would indicate that school aren't the only incentive for picking a community with many families.
On your point regarding the gentleman not paying school taxes because he home schools.
Should he not get a break same as private schools that get money from the public schools for students in their programs? SO if he home schools shouldn't he get money that could go to software, computer, online classes?
Now of course, the public schools don't want to share their revenues with anyone and that is pretty much the reason they oppose charter schools.
Regarding Elaine's blog, I definitely agree with you, I love it too and it is a very good meeting place for opinions.
I've been swayed on several issues from reading opposing opinions.
To 7:11 - The DeJong cost was $78,500.
On the subject of students being educated outside the public school, why shouldn't the money follow the child to the school he/she attends?
8:20 DeJong was commissioned by the district in 2006. Forgive me for rounding after 7 years.
It was my understanding he was hired for a fee plus expenses. I understood the final tally to be very close to $100,000. I will stand correct, if $78,500 was the final amount.
According to a post by then Board member:
"Thursday, August 14, 2008High School Project Costs
On Monday the Board heard an update from the architects about the progress being made on the high school renovation project. We also heard from a number of residents regarding the project. One resident's comments in particular hit home with me. One of the things I have been wondering about is how the costs for certain options of this project seem to be out of touch with what was presented to us by Dejong during their research just over 18 months ago (Dejong final summary was released in January 2007).
At the time, Dejong presented four possible alternatives to the community:
Option 1: Renovation came with a cost between $30-50 million
Option 2: 25/75 New/Renovation split at a cost of $60-80 million
Option 3: 50/50 New/Renovation split at a cost of $80-100 million
Option 4: Build a new facility at a cost of $110-120 million"
Option 2, I'm fairly certain and again I'll stand corrected if my memory has clouded over the past 6 years was the option that most residents attending the DeJong sessions preferred.
Now as you find fault with my memory, keep in mind we have no idea about whether we'll tennis courts or the rifle range in the finished building which is zeroing on the $113.4 million cap set by the board at the outset.
7:11 I agree with you to a certain point. The school district can't be building up and tearing down classrooms and hiring and firing staff as the student population rises and falls due to home schooling or private schools. Its impracticable.
But a good portion of the revenue to the district should be shared with the school the child attends or rebated to the home schooling parent.
Money following the child is a tough problem to solve.
8:53 PM, you write:"keep in mind we have no idea about whether we'll tennis courts or the rifle range in the finished building which is zeroing on the $113.4 million cap set by the board at the outset. "
And we haven't started to fill those rooms. When does THAT fundraising begin?
Too bad the Superintendent and school board members treat Mt. Lebanon residents so poorly. As Mr. Fernandes says, there is no incentive for them to treat the stakeholders decently. We all have to pay our taxes or we lose our homes. We have taken a lot of crap in recent years.
Elaine
[Marine Sgt.] Coleman, struggling with dementia, was among those who lost a home. His debt had snowballed to $4,999 — 37 times the original tax bill. Not only did he lose his $197,000 house, but he also was stripped of the equity because tax lien purchasers are entitled to everything, trumping even mortgage companies.
“This is destroying lives,” said Christopher Leinberger, a distinguished scholar and research professor of urban real estate at George Washington University.
Officials at the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue said that without tax sales, property owners wouldn’t feel compelled to pay their bills.
“The tax sale is the last resort. It’s also the first resort — it’s the only way in the statute to collect debt,” said deputy chief financial officer Stephen Cordi.
But the District, a hotbed for the tax lien industry, has done little to shield its most vulnerable homeowners from unscrupulous operators.
Foreclosures have upended families in some of the city’s most distressed neighborhoods. Houses were taken from a housekeeper, a department store clerk, a seamstress and even the estates of dead people. The hardest hit: elderly homeowners, who were often sick or dying when tax lien purchasers seized their houses.
One 65-year-old flower shop owner lost his Northwest Washington home of 40 years after a company from Florida paid his back taxes — $1,025 — and then took the house through foreclosure while he was in hospice, dying of cancer. A 95-year-old church choir leader lost her family home to a Maryland investor over a tax debt of $44.79 while she was struggling with Alzheimer’s in a nursing home.
Other cities and states took steps to curb abuses, such as capping the fees, safeguarding houses owned by the elderly or scrapping tax sales altogether and instead collecting the money themselves.
“Where is the justice? They’re taking people’s lives,” said Beverly Smalls, whose elderly aunt lost her home in Northeast Washington. “It’s just not right.”
http://www.thedailycrux.com/Post/43373/how-to-lose-your-home-over-45
To 8:58 - The school board was complaining last year about money following the children to a school in Baldwin. The problem I saw was a double-dip pension contribution to the other school. Take away the double dip and you all ready have money following the child to all but religious schools. Why not solve the problem and transfer $15,000 per child moved to another school now? That way there is incentive to better serve the children in our schools now instead of just special interest groups. It would give the school district incentive to serve the students instead of building three gyms, no tennis courts or rifle range, and two swimming pools (one a municipal pool).
1:27/4:54,
Mt Lebanon has one tremendous distinction over every other community in the country - THEY BUILT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AROUND A SCHOOL DISTRICT!
It's pitiful really.
Mt Lebanon has tremendous potential. Mt Lebanon could be developed into a world-class community, and become recognized with the likes of any one of many affluent suburbs.
Unfortunately, Mt Lebanon will never get there.
The reason is very simple. For many years the Mt Lebanon School District has been run by the teachers union. School Board after school board bent over and absolutely kissed the ass of the local teachers union.
As a practical matter, there is no accountability, no review process that amounts for anything, little supervision and EVERYTHING is justified. You see, part of our proud tradition here is having spineless administrators...
Anyway, sit back, enjoy the show and don't take it all too seriously. The folks who are bankrupting our community are certainly enjoying themselves!
9:29 when don't you hear the school district complaining about money.
Answer: when they're handing out bonuses, giving out raises, creating fundraisers, or hiring cmpaign coordinators.
Why do people keep citing that Pittsburgh Business Times slideshow about fast growing schools as if it meant something with regard to to the the quality or desirability of a school district? Mt. Lebanon beats every district on that list in the USNews rankings, save USC.
Does anyone really think that their kids would get better educations or that their home values would be more secure in #9 Leechburg, where the median home list price is down 5% year over year from last year at $49,900 and only 54% of students test proficient in math? Or how about #5 Aliquippa, where the per capita income is $13,718 and only 29% of students test proficient in math? Quaker Valley and Fox Chapel also didn't make the list. Does that mean that everyone in Sewickley Heights and Fox Chapel should move their kids to #6 Chartiers-Houston? If I told you that in recent years, enrollment at Sanford-Brown Institute has grown faster than enrollment at Brown University, would you think that Sanford-Brown was somehow a better school or a better magnet of students?
If you look at the slideshow, you'll notice that every district on the list is farther away from town and less developed than Mt. Lebanon. There is more room in those districts to build new houses and develop new neighborhoods, so naturally it’s easier for them to add new kids to their schools. They add tons of new households every year. On the other hand, the number of housing units here in Mt. Lebanon is somewhat fixed because the area is already built up and the zoning rules constrain further development. Existing homes turn over fairly often, but not a lot of new units are being built. That hinders our ability to put up high enrollment growth stats, but it also means that our houses will sell for higher prices than we could expect if there were vast expanses of vacant land to be developed in the area.
No one is daying that the MTLSD is better or worse 12:46. The question and only question it has any relationship to is whether the SD is a catalyst for keep home values high because it creates a demand for Lebo housing stock.
Yes, a good SD plays an essential role in keeping home values high, but it isn't the only factor which is highlighted by the fact that Lebo doesn't appear on the list. Plus the fact, that enrollments in Lebo are falling- not rising.
If the school district were the magnet claimed student enrollment wouldn't be falling.
12:46--we're just following the led of the school board. They're the ones (especially Posti) who for years, touted those silly and artificial rankings as holding some importance. Frankly, I think the whole thing is ridiculous. If you look around the area, there is a neglible difference in the "quality" of public schools. Lebo is USC is Bethel is Sewickley is Peter's is Fox Chapel is...etc.
unfortunately there are people who live in this community, like the illustrious PIO and members of the school board, who are stuck in the 80s and believe somehow Lebo is the cream of the crop. They're delusional. If you look around, median incomes and housing in surrounding communities are on par with the bubble we call MT. Lebanon. They also have sidewalks and roads that don't look like something out of the third world. Their town management is responsive to citizens and focused on real issues, and their school boards are focused on making the most of the tax dollars that come their way. Lebo is on a downhill slide and it's all due to the lack of governance here. We have pure amateurs running the show. But if you speak out against them or try to run against them to make changes for the better, you're attacked. It's pathetic.
12:46 how does a dog poop park increase the value of my home and make it a better place for children?
Right now, I am playing the waiting game with MTLSD. I am curious if they will be editing last night's citizen's comments. It hasn't aired on TV yet. Doesn't the program guide (which isn't working at the moment) say that the SB meetings air at 8 AM and 10:00 AM?
They seem to be having technical difficulties.
Elaine
I switched cable companies today and have not been able to see if the meetings were on TV. Every time I check, the announcements are on. Now I am hearing Christmas music with the announcements. What is going on? I have yet to see a meeting air.
Elaine
Can someone who attended the meeting please explain the citizen comment?
What was it about?
Was the meeting ever aired on TV?
4:22 PM, refresh your webpage to see my latest post. This should answer your questions.
Elaine
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