Tax increase for approval tonight

2018-2019 Final Budget: RESOLVED, That the Board approves a final budget for the 2018-2019 school year in the amount of $98,933,314 setting the millage rate at 24.32, a .39 mill increase over the 2017-2018 millage rate, utilizing $750,000 of the Fund Balance to balance revenues with expenditures and continuing in force all other taxes levied for school purposes as per the formal budget resolution. (Formal Resolution to be appended to the minutes.)

"...we nearly have a tax revolt going here."

In The Almanac's Mt. Lebanon schools face $2.6 million shortfall in budget article, Elaine Cappucci said that they will have to raise millage again, or "decimate" its education system. 

Most board members hope to target somewhere between a 0.5 and 0.55 mill tax increase, and to use between $750,000 and $1 million of the fund balance. 

Dan Remely was alone in preferring a significantly smaller tax increase of .25 mills. He favors using $1.5 million of fund balance. 

“There comes a point where we have to figure out some way to protect taxpayers as well as our other stakeholders,” he said. “I am concerned we nearly have a tax revolt going here. Our schools draw people into Mt. Lebanon. These families are then being taxed even further, as we’re seeing in the papers.” 

Remely’s comment references a controversial practice whereby the municipality of Mt. Lebanon targeted recent home buyers for property reassessments at or very near their homes’ sale prices – a practice the affected families have dubbed the “Mt. Lebanon Newcomer’s Tax.” Some of these residents’ tax bills increased by thousands of dollars following their reassessments.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am getting pretty tired of this well-worn script. To use a Jan Kleinism, it is "typical for this time of year." We can speak of bonuses, trophy cases, and lucrative raises any other time of the year, but come February and March, they all start crying the blues. They even put out fake budgets. Searching for the words "fake budget" on Lebo Citizens, I found Fake budget will be posted soon. We get the same lists of unknowns. We know, that darn governor... But how do you do it? You want to make cuts far away from the student, yet manage to give Timmy his raise every year.  What are you cutting this year? FLES?

Word is that "The Grievance" doesn't look good for the school district. Still hoping to hear any time now, right? Of course, "typical for this time of year."

For more on what Dan Remely refers to as a tax revolt, read Valuation changes, fairness pledged in Mt. Lebanon. 

The Big Reveal

This is very confusing, but here it goes.  After the County Reassessment, our millage will decrease by 4.54 mills to 22.61 mills. But it is still a .42 millage increase.  No fund balance will be used.  Jan Klein will be setting aside funds that will not show up in the budget for appeals.  Asbury Heights and Concordia are the biggest appeals.

Larry Lebowitz commented on the outstanding grievance. The fund balance will be used if the grievance is awarded to union.

What I don't understand is how the municipality put this information in their agenda and shared it with residents on Friday, but the school board has to keep it under wraps.

The question remains about the gaming revenue. Still no final budget posted anywhere.

New Mills Final Budget

Estimated value of Community Assessment in 2013

Budget Reduction Concepts

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

And so it begins

Monday's school board agenda has its first (that has been made public) change order.

High School Project Change Order HS2012-1: RESOLVED, That the Board approves a change order in the amount of $_______to Nello Construction for replacement of ground material as necessary for the high school project as per the attached list.

This agenda item follows the always transparent, proposed final budget approval for the 2012-2013 school year:

2012-2013 Proposed Final Budget: RESOLVED, That the Board approves a Proposed Final Budget for the 2012-13 school year in the amount of $_____at a millage rate of_____which is an increase of ____mills over the 2011-12 school year.

Every dime the School Board doesn't take from us...

Every dime the School Board doesn't take from us, the new County administration will take.  Allegheny County tax hike pondered  Funny, they waited for the election to pass to announce that.

An FYI, the Commission introduced an ordinance last night (Bill No. 24-11) to raise the millage by .71 mills to a total of  5.47 mills. The uncertainty of the reassessment process will require future modifications to this rate.

After the December 7 opening of the bids for the high school project, I am counting on money experts out there to analyze what they mean in terms of tax increases. 

Bottom line, my Dress 4 Work service project next year may be intended for Mt. Lebanon residents. Something has to give.

On the Municipal side...

The 2012 Manager's Recommended Budget is now online here. Additional links to the recommended budget are on lebocitizens.com here or here.  The Manager's Recommended Budget shows a .245 mill tax increase which translates to a $146.60 increase for a house assessed at $200,000.  However, that is based on a 20% increase in County reassessments.

In the Trib:

Without the reassessments and the.245-mill proposed tax increase, Mt. Lebanon would face a $1.46 million deficit, Feller said. Covering that to balance the budget would required a hike of .71 mills. Or commissioners would have to cut things like a new pumper truck for the fire department; Sunday hours at the library; civic activities like the celebration of the upcoming town centennial; and aid to community groups like the Teen Center, Mt. Lebanon Partnership and the historical society. In previous years, some of those cutbacks have been proposed or carried out, but restored after community outcry.

Maybe it is time for the Allegheny County Housing Authority to start paying taxes on the seven or so houses they own here in Mt. Lebanon. Or maybe certain candidates who have been in the media lately should be paying their fair share in taxes.  Or I could just add a side porch roof to my house.

In any case, the public hearing is set for November 14 at 8 pm at the Municipal Building.

Are we getting balanced BUDGET reporting?

The Mt. Lebanon School District has posted the 1/4/2011 Forecast on the District website.  Spoiler alert!  It isn't balanced.  Even I noticed that.  The Real Estate Tax line is flat.  I have some questions whether they should be showing anything for Gaming.  What about the Federal stimulus funds?  I thought they were going away.  Best case scenario shows an estimate of a 41.37% millage INCREASE in five years.  Come on guys!  Do we need to have Mr. Feller and Ms. Taylor show you how to do it?  They televised budget hearings and posted a balanced budget. The School District doesn't even hold Audit and Finance Committee meetings!  Keep flashing your transparency i.d. card.  It hasn't sunk in yet with the community.

Update:11:37 a.m. The Forecast in its current form shows a 21.14% increase.  In order to balance the budget, the millage needs to be increased, resulting in a 41.37% millage increase in five years.  This is just an estimate and doesn't reflect some of the expenses which are offset by corresponding increases in State contributions (revenues).

Update: 11:29 p.m. About the Gaming...From the School District website:
Gambling Fund
Annually, the Budget Secretary for Pennsylvania certifies the amount of slots (gambling) funds available for real estate tax relief if sufficient funds are available in the fund.  The exact amount available per homeowner will vary by school district, but is estimated by the State that for Mt. Lebanon it will be $188  per eligible homeowner for 2010.  These gambling funds will be rebated through a reduction in assessment of owner-occupied homes via homestead exemptions.  Each owner-occupied home will receive the exact same tax reduction, not a percentage reduction based on the value of the home.  This reduction in taxes will be clearly noted on the tax bills.  It is important to note that the gambling monies are not guaranteed and may differ in amounts from year to year if they are approved.  Any money the District receives from gambling funds must be returned in total through this homestead exemption process.  

http://www.mtlsd.org/district/budget/taxissues.asp