Outrageous

Years ago, I called Jordan Tax Service about their excessive fee. They said that Mt. Lebanon negotiated that. When I spoke at a commission meeting, I was told that Jordan was responsible. Now that the fee has increased, check your bill and see what percentage you are paying.

Another little factoid: Mt. Lebanon School District's budget is $98.9M. Upper St. Clair School District's budget is $83.6M.

Mt. Lebanon School District Budget Information

Upper St. Clair School District Budget Information

Upper St. Clair Superintendent's 2017 Annual Report 

Mt. Lebanon Superintendent's 2017 Annual Report

Mt. Lebanon taxes arrived in the mail

Just a heads up.

We're surrounded by greed

Remember when the school district increased our taxes by 10.5% in May 2010? Sure you do! Mt. Lebanon Passes Budget To Pay For School Renovations Want to know how excessive that tax increase was? I filed a Right To Know for Jan Klein's July 1, 2013 report presented to the school board directors. My July 16 request was finally granted today.

The ONE PAGE report is located here. Notice the excess funds available from the May 2010 tax increase $2,375,000!!!!! How about that General Capital Fund, Dave and Dave? $6,350,000!!!

The commission majority wants to turf Mellon Field and the School District is sitting on $8,585,000, yet they want to wrap bonds to pay for the entire balance of high school renovation.

Dave Brumfield, Kristen Linfante, John Bendel, Dave Franklin, and all the rest of the sports people that were at the commission meeting last night: Why aren't you going after the school district to fix their own damn fields? For that, our sidewalks are missing on safe walking routes, people are plagued with flooding issues, our municipal building can't be locked securely, the golf course can't have a tractor, staff has to cut back, we can't close the pension funding gap, haven't paid for McNeilly, and we haven't started to fund the TOD project.  But hey, you have $829,561 just burning a hole in your pockets. So what do you want to do? Turf a school district field because it is a "safety hazard." Equally hazardous as people losing cars and damage to their homes due to flood waters or making kids walk to school on busy streets that have no sidewalks. What are you thinking, boys and girls??????

Here is a fun exercise

The Mt. Lebanon Tax Office should be commended. Our June 1 tax bills ARRIVED in our mailboxes on June 1.  They are so efficient!

For those of you who have recovered from the shock and are looking for something fun to do on this Sunday afternoon, I have a fun exercise for you all.  The Allegheny County website, Allegheny County Real Estate Office provides a free search for mortgages. Click on "Free Search" in the gray text box. The default office setting is "Deeds." Using the drop down arrow, find "Mortgages." Every time one takes out a mortgage, refinances, takes out home equity loans, or pays off the mortgage, it is all recorded here.

Here is where the fun begins. Start looking up the names of those who vote on our tax increases. Compare the amounts of what is owed vs. the sale price of the home here. In many cases, it is obvious why we are where we are with our school district budget.

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.