Preliminary Budget - Act 1 of 2006 requires the Board approve a preliminary budget at this time of year so that application may be made for any applicable exceptions to the Index which is 2.1% for 2014-15. Such a budget has been available for public view on our website since December 18, 2013 and is presented in the required State form for Board approval. While this budget reflects a millage increase high enough so that all applicable exceptions may be requested, the Final Budget approved in proposed form in April and in final form in May does not require the millage reflected in this preliminary form. The superintendent recommends approval of this legally required budget.
The fake budget is showing a .99 millage increase. The fake budget will be adopted at the January 20, 2014 school board business meeting.
40 comments:
Will anyone be checking to see that real estate revenue receipts for the current year do not exceed the prior years receipts by more than 1.7% due to the reassessment restriction ? I believe school districts are limited to the then index of 1.7%, while the Muni is allowed 5% ?
I am up to so many lattes per month that I am getting the caffeine shakes!
It has only just begun!
This is ridiculous. They raise taxes every year thinking it won't effect the population, but the decrease in students projected seems to glaringly tell a different story. Common sense in Mt Lebanon politics is nonexistent. It really is highly frustrating to watch this unfold knowing that I have to put up with this for at least 18 yrs unless they raise taxes high enough that it isn't worth it anymore.
Damion, you do have options. I would hate to lose you as a neighbor, but you could move to USC, for example, where the taxes are lower and your kids get an excellent education. Believe me, I am not saying for you to get out. I told my kids the same thing and they are very happy living where they are living.
Pittsburgh Business Times published a list of the wealthiest zip codes in the area. 15243 was #14, while 15228 was #16. Our local governing bodies believe we have big bucks. They are relying on old data.
Elaine
Those zip codes rankings tells where the smart money is going and the wealthiest ones aren't on the T line.
That budget is so tight that the kids in the elementary schools can't afford a science fair. Who knew it was expensive to showcase work done at home in a classroom after school? Only one school, Howe, provides a science fair opportunity for kids k-5.
Can I ask a question? (And I hope it's not too dumb) Why does everyone say that USC has much lower property taxes? MTL is about 1 millage point higher than USC, and the schools are comparable. (I know that USC is rated higher, but really they both have reputations for being great school districts.) I am having a hard time understanding how a 1 millage point difference is significant. We compared USC and MTL last year when we were house buying and went with MTL because of the proximity to the city and the T and the business district. We deemed the difference in taxes to be insignificant, and even though our son is a toddler, we did consider the new highs school to be a plus. Am I missing something? Sorry for being a bit behind on this - most of you are more knowledgeable, given that you've lived here longer.
1:31 to answer your question if my math is up to TERC standards and the millage rates I looked up are accurate.
Based on a $250,000 home value.
MTL@22.6100 mills- $5,652.50 SDTax
USC@21.4130 mills- $5,353.25
and
NA @17.4039 mills- $4,350.98
(North Allegheny)
The saving between MTL and USC would give you enough money to buy your kid a Chromebook.
The difference between MTL and NA... you could get them and MacBook.
"its all up to what value down to where you are" - George Harrison
Corrections--
The SD tax savings between MTL and USC would give you enough money to buy your kid a Chromebook.
The difference between MTL and NA... you could get them a MacBook.
"its all up to what you value down to where you are" - George Harrison
If you add up the savings between MTL and USC from your child's birth to graduation in 18 years, you'd save approximately $5,400, if the rates and your assessment stayed constant.
If you put that $300 annual savings into some sort of college savings account you might double that amount.
1:31 Your question is not dumb. There are some factors to consider. USC typically outpaces Mt. Lebanon in terms of student performance rankings. One may think that the top rankings both districts enjoy makes appears to be splitting hairs, but if you look closely at some factors the gap widens.
USC provides school busses unlike Mt. Lebanon where parent often drive their kids to school or the students who drive to get to work after school have to pay for parking permits. As parents juggle transporting their kids with their own schedules and considering the added expense of gas and time over twelve years it's clear that USC is easier on the wallet.
In terms of caliber of superintendents, comparing the two in terms of experience, results, personal achievements and salary, once agin USC has a quality more cost-effective leader. Search the Upper St. Clair patch and read about the administrative restructuring that saved $100,000. At the same time our district hands out bonuses to highly paid administrators for a building project that is eating up missions of dollars in change orders.
One other variable is the quality of housing stock. Mt. Lebanon housing typically lacks modern amenities such as two car garages, air conditioning or energy efficient windows. Consider the cost of housing between the two communities and you will find a difference.
Those are only a few comparisons, but when you peel back the layers of the onion Mt. Lebanon can't compete looking at expenditures. Apples to apples, USC appears to be a better value for the money.
That $300 savings will probably just about cover what will probably be the annual student parking fee at the high school when your toddler gets there 1:31.
Ooops should have said:
That $300 difference between USC and MTL taxes if you could keep it will probably just about cover the annual MTL student parking fee when your toddler gets to the high school.
The MTL board doubled the fee in--I think, just two years from $25 to $50 and the kids don't even park on campus.
USC had a 16.6% reduction in their 2013 school taxes, thanks to their SUPER super.
Elaine
This doesn't have much to do with anything, but I wanted to let 1:08 know that Lincoln has a science fair, too. They brought it back last year because parents volunteered to be in charge of organizing it.
11:28 - Is the LES fair limited to the upper grades due to financial constraints?
The difference between USC and Lebo can't be summed up by tax rates alone. First, you're assuming a Chromebook. To do that you have to assume a $250K house. Many are less. Next, they looked for a home near the T. It's possible they're commuting downtown. Time and gas saving would outweigh the tax savings. Everything must be accounted for.
Maybe that explains why the St. Anne's Park and Ride is always filled to capacity. And the overflow spills on to my neighborhood. They must have the best of both worlds.
Please explain, 7:59 AM, why USC can pay their superintendent less than what we pay Timmy. Please explain why the USC teachers took a concession based on the freeze that Dr. O'Toole voluntarily placed on himself.
I wonder how many people have considered downsizing by moving to USC. I am laughing typing that.
Elaine
7:59 you're right everything must be accounted for, add in the cost of T fares, days it doesn't run, privacy and comfort of your own car, standing on a crowded T in rush hour, numerous student participation fees and last but not least there are numerous houses that sell for well over $250,000.
Why do you assume 1:31 bought a less expensive house? Maybe they bought in Main Line.
7:18 by all means consider everything.
The cummulative tax rate (SD, Muni, County) for USC 29.97 vs Lebo 31.87.
So the difference on even a $150,000 home still comes close to a $250 Chromebook.
7:59 factor this in. The USC resident can quickly park at that great big boondoggle PAT garage at South Hills Village and still use the T to downtown.
http://www.zillow.com/mount-lebanon-pa/home-values/
Median Home price $219,000
Home buying market - cool
Zillow numbers for USC are Median Home Price $261,200.
Home buying market: neutral (favoring neither buyer or seller, cool favors buyer, hot favors seller)
So 7:59 as long as we're accounting for everything, we're do you think the MTL housing market would be had we followed the advice of the BOSN (Linfante and friends) and bought the $150,000,000 high school plan?
Would it be a buyers market or a sellers market?
At bargain prices $219,300 vs USCs $261,200 and factoring in the most expensive high school in WPA, you'd think the housing market in Lebo would be on fire!
I know, lets build more stuff, install lots of turf and raise taxes through the roof. That'll turn things around.
I know Zillow's living in a cave too.
The EPA has changed gears regarding the safety of turf (now they are listing contaminants). See Fraasch blog for one article on the topic or see EPA website.
Bet Brumfield and Franklin, health and environmental science experts will quickly dismiss the EPA as living in a cave.
So now what, 10:00 AM? Should we tear out the high school turf? Does this mean that MTLSD will not contribute to the maintenance of Middle and Wildcat? Was there any mention in the fake budget that MTLSD was going to maintain Middle and Wildcat? Will they have to find fields with real, live, green grass?
Elaine
In this taxpayers opinion the most prudent choice now would be to continue with the Brafferton fix and proceed with Kelly's Robb Hollow plan sans turf.
We get more fields, another park for everyone and get rid of McNeilly.
Which by the way, if sold to a private entity would add the tax rolls.
Correction: Here is the link to the article about the EPA study.
Elaine
Realizing this comment is going to invoke the wrath of John in this prelimenary budget are there line items for the Capital Campaign effort?
I'm sure DeLuca will fall into salaries and benfits, but is there anything on the revenue side to offset the expenses?
Just the school tax will go to 33-34 mils according to the "town hall" a few years ago!
This is 1:31 --> our tax savings from using the T more than offsets the savings we would have realized from moving to USC, though I have to say that if taxes continue to go up, we may seriously regret our decision. For now, we love living here. We were in a group of about 6 professional couples in our early thirties who moved to MtL from the city last year. Like us, our friends were skittish of the high taxes but chose MtL because it is the most urban of the suburbs. It has a good school system, access to public transport and is relatively close to the city. We can walk to a lot of different restaurants, bars, shops, etc. And the walking school district was a plus because we actually *want* our kids to walk to school (our kid is 1, ask about this in 10 years, maybe our answer will be different). In USC, there's nowhere to walk, and barely any sidewalks available. It just seemed too much like suburbia, even though it's also a beautiful community. Maybe MtL will do well in spite of its government. My friends in LA are always saying that their city is thriving in spite of poor government because of its natural assets -- the beach, mountains and weather. MtL may do well because of its location, business district, etc. (Though I have to say, I got my 2014 assessment, and my eyes watered at the thought of the tax bill.)
7:44 PM, you are aware of why the millage went down last year, I hope. It isn't because our taxes went down. Our millage went down because of the county reassessments. Or are you one of the people who lives in the Manor and got a huge break on your reassessment?
Elaine
I agree with 10:34.
Does it strike anyone as odd that Republican Gov. Corbett, education reformer, comes to MTLSD to praise the district that continually bashes his education budgets, charter schools, distribution of funds and is building the most expensive high school in Western PA.
Not only that the once republican stronghold in Allegheny County is now Firmly in democratic hands.
What can he be thinking?
No doubt our dubious complaining school board members will welcome the recognition. They won't say a peep to the Governor as long as he bestows his awards on the District.
And conversely, the Governor is in town for a campaign stop. It's nothing more. No big deal, this is how the political world works.
The one that had the reassessment making him cry, probably in ward 5. I will never understand how an unfair assessment system was replaced by another unfair assessment system. Those in the "rich" neighborhoods really caught some kind of break.
If 8:21's eyes watered over their 2014 assessment, wait until you open future tax bills.
I want to see Mary Birks chew him out and throw him under the bus for being "anti public education"
Not.
She'll gladly shake his and, smile and thank him for coming.
http://triblive.com/mobile/5417395-96/county-property-tax
"Even though anti-windfall provisions are no longer at play for taxing authorities, the controller's office intends to keep a close eye on local governments, said Brad Korinski, chief legal counsel in the controller's office.
“With another year of data, I think there is going to be greater transparency and folks will better know what's going on in their taxing bodies,” Korinski said."
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