Mt. Lebanon taxes arrived in the mail

Just a heads up.

Kristen will be so proud of her replacement UPDATED

From: egillen476
To: cvuono 
Cc: commission ; sfeller ; rsukal ; philip.weis ; egillen476 
Subject: Re: Taxes
Date: Fri, Jul 17, 2015 1:37 pm

Easier said than done, Coleen. You, of all people, should know that. You had your house on the market for six months four years ago and couldn't sell it. Now you are asking $70,000 more and it has been on the market for almost a month now. Is that why your house is on the market? You won't say where you plan to move.

Thank you for your response, Coleen. I rarely get one.

Elaine Gillen

 -----Original Message----- 
From: Coleen Vuono 
To: egillen476 Cc: Commission ; Stephen Feller ; Rudy Sukal ; Philip Weis 
Sent: Fri, Jul 17, 2015 12:11 pm 
Subject: Re: Taxes 

Ms. Gillen, 
With all of the complaints you have about Mt. Lebanon it seems to me that you really might be happier selling your house and moving out of the community. 
Coleen Vuono

On Fri, Jul 17, 2015 at 11:32 AM, ' egillen476@aol.com' via Commission wrote: 

Commissioners, 

I just paid my $826.06 municipal tax bill in protest. I have learned that Mt. Lebanon residents are not treated fairly. Those who pay more in taxes are the ones who you seem to cater to. 

Whether it is municipal trees, views on the use of weapons in our densely populated community, skewed public information, pet projects, or even getting responses to emails, money talks in Mt. Lebanon. 

I wrote on my check that I paid my taxes in protest. I'm sure you are all chuckling over this email, but it is the only recourse that I have. It has never been this bad in all the years I have lived in Mt. Lebanon. 

Elaine Gillen

Update July 17, 2015 4:02 PM Another email from Coleen. Wow! This is a record!

From: egillen476 
To: cvuono 
Cc: commission ; sfeller ; philip.weis ; egillen476 
Subject: Re: Taxes Date: Fri, Jul 17, 2015 3:58 pm 
Attachments: 31 Woodland Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15228 is For Sale _ Zillow.pdf (3591K) 

Since this is all subject to Right To Knows, I wanted to cite my source, Coleen. The information on your house came from Zillow. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/31­Woodland­Dr­Pittsburgh­PA­15228/11396962_zpid/ I have also attached it as a pdf. If the information is incorrect, I could refer you to another real estate agent who would make sure that the information is posted correctly. Perhaps the correction would help to sell your home faster, since this is what the public sees. You're welcome. 

While I have your attention, Coleen, do you plan on spending the balance of your term in Ward 3, should you sell your home? How many times have I asked you this question before? 

Elaine Gillen 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Coleen Vuono 
To: egillen476 
Cc: Commission ; Stephen Feller ; Rudy Sukal ; Philip Weis 
Sent: Fri, Jul 17, 2015 1:54 pm 
Subject: Re: Taxes 

Ms. Gillen, 
Just for the record-everything you said about my house is incorrect. 
Coleen Vuono 

Feeling like you are not being represented by your elected officials?

I sure am.  We do have options. I am not suggesting a tax revolt, but here is something to consider. To receive a 2% discount on our municipal and school district taxes, the discount deadline is July 31, 2012. Since the taxes are to be paid by separate checks, they can be paid at different times.  Looking at the less expensive municipal taxes, the 2% discount is minimal by comparison. Do you feel like you are being represented by your commissioners? I don't. For less than $20 on average, you can make a statement to the municipality. I am choosing to pay my 2012 municipal tax bill in September.

I have always paid my taxes the second they would arrive in my mailbox. Last year, I waited to pay my school district taxes until the end of July.  I know it didn't make much of a difference to the school district, but I felt better. This year, I think I am going to take advantage of the school district real estate tax installment option. Here is the installment option as written at the bottom of my school district tax bill:

Mt. Lebanon School District Real Estate Tax may be paid in the following installments:

1/2 of the face tax due by: 9/30/12

1/4 of the face tax due by: 13/31/12 (whenever that is)

1/4 of the face tax due by: 2/28/13

If more people take this route, perhaps that would get our local government officials' attention.