Timmy opposes elimination of Act 1 Index

When Corbett was in office, the School Board couldn't wait to get rid of him. In the words of Commissioner Dave Brumfield, "Corbett sucks!" Wolf was the answer to their prayers. Now, not so much.

School Board President Larry Lebowitz and our illustrious superintendent sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf expressing their opposition to the elimination of the Act 1 Index. In the PG's Mt. Lebanon School District opposes elimination of Act 1 Index, elimination of the Act 1 Index would mean that school districts would have to put a referendum on the ballot for any and all property tax increases.

Act 1 went into effect in 2006 and allows school districts to apply to increase taxes for expenses such as pension payments and special education to a pre-set index based on wage inflation. Currently, a referendum is not needed for the increases as long as they don’t exceed the district’s index. 

Larry thinks that is a bad idea. Programs would have to be cut. He wants us to write letters to our legislators. Uh, no, Larry. This gal will not be doing that. We don't like the huge raises that administrators have been giving themselves. Eliminating the Act 1 Index would kill Jan Klein's fake budget that she submits in the winter months. (I think it is in February.) She took advantage of all the exceptions and frankly, cooked the books. I think it is long overdue. I wrote about it in June 2011, A Referendum for School District Taxes? Mt. Lebanon has been abusing Act 1 since its beginning. I hope Act 1 Index is eliminated.

A Referendum for School District Taxes?

The Post Gazette has had a couple of articles about eliminating Act 1 exceptions through House Bill 1326 and Senate Bill 911. The School District was able to increase our taxes last year 10.5% because of the construction debt and pension obligations.  If these bills go through, the School District is up the creek, from what I understand.  Any tax increases above the PA Dept. of Education index, would require a referendum. Groups are saying the public needs to have greater control over school spending. The PA School Board Association isn't one of those groups. Groups fighting changes to school tax referendums

In today's lead letter to the editor in the PG, School boards must make the case to voters, a director from Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg, believes PA voters shouold have the final say on all school tax increases.

Looks like the high school project may go up for referendum after all.

Update: June 2, 2011 The Mt. Lebanon School Board Directors passed a resolution on March 21, 2011 opposing Senate Bill 1.  This was right after appointing an Owner's Liaison for the High School project. 3/21/11 Podcast of March 21, 2011 School Board meeting It is my understanding that the vote will take place some time next week. That bill is effectively being put in place for the same reason the Taj Mahal (Act 34 Bill) was put in place. Mt Lebanon School Directors are again trying to get away with doing something that is excessive and in opposition to the wants and desires of the community.