All this in one Google Alert

Mt. Lebanon is in dire straits!

FOX13 Memphis Mt. Lebanon police searching for Dollar General robber WPXI Pittsburgh Police in Mount Lebanon are hoping surveillance photos will help them find the person who robbed a Dollar General store Thursday night. Flag as irrelevant
	Increased police presence continues Friday at Mt. Lebanon High School Tribune-Review Police found more threatening graffiti Thursday at Mt. Lebanon High School, prompting officials to request increased police presence Friday at the ... Flag as irrelevant
	Tentative tax increase expected to get OK by Mt. Lebanon school board Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Mt. Lebanon school board members are expected Monday to approve a $94.7 million preliminary budget calling for a 0.8-mill increase in the property ... Flag as irrelevant

School taxes increasing .40 mills

PDE-2028 - FINAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET
Fiscal Year 07/01/2015 - 06/30/2016

At the May 11, 2015 School Board Discussion Meeting, the Board discussed the Proposed Final Budget that includes a .40 mill increase with an operating budget of $91,643,749 at a millage rate of 23.55 mills. The Proposed Final Budget reflects a decrease from the .42 mill increase in the budget presented at the April 13, 2015 School Board meeting. The decrease in millage is the result of updated revenue and expenditure projections. This budget also requires the use of $750,000 of the fund balance and a reduction of approximately $500,000 in expenditures, including the reduction of three support staff positions. Additionally, the school district will not fill one support staff position and one teaching position due to retirements.

The 2015-2016 budget reflects a millage rate that is under the Act 1 Index limit of a .44 mill increase which is allowable according to inflationary guidelines.

The 2015-2016 budget reflects a millage rate that is under the Act 1 Index limit of a .44 mill increase which is allowable according to inflationary guidelines. The cost of the millage increase to a homeowner is $40 a year on a home assessed at $100,000. The vote on the Final Budget will take place at the May 18, 2015 Regular School Board meeting.

Tax hike and cuts and reserves! Oh my!

In case you didn't see today's PG, Molly Born had an article called, Tax hike, funding, job cuts, tap of reserves characterize plan in Mt. Lebanon. No surprises.  It was very, very, very, very,  (oops...one too many very's) difficult for the board to make $850,000 in cuts. No concessions from the teachers, Dr. Tim, or Ms. Jan.

Tax likely to fill budget gap in Mt. Lebanon schools

In today's PG, Tax likely to fill budget gap in Mt. Lebanon schools, the school board will be approving a .5 mill increase on Monday. I love their revenue-generating ideas.  That should cover the $30,000 a year commitment made by YSA.

Revenue-generating ideas still stand: Formerly free sporting events would now cost attendees and ticket prices for events that charge admission would increase by $1, bringing in $18,400. Mt. Lebanon High School students would be charged $50 a year for parking, collecting $10,000. And an increase in building rental fees will net $8,000.

Note how there were no pay freezes for Dr. Tim or Ms. Jan. Notice how there were no concessions made by teachers. The new budget will use roughly $106,000 in reserve funds.  The board made $800,000 in program and staff cuts. The millage increase would mean an extra $50 a year for a home valued at $100,000. If the district loses the grievance, it will be far worse for many years to come.

Mt. Lebanon residents, are you content with this new budget? I am not. Are you still willing to hide and not take a stand? Still post anonymously here on the blog and not take action? I was drowning two years ago with the 10.5% increase.  It has only gotten worse. But we allow this to happen.  Is everyone that well off here?  I guess I don't belong in Mt. Lebanon.

Tradeoffs

From Josephine Posti's Center Court blog:  

Last week we began discussions about the 2012-13 budget and will continue those discussions until May, when we will approve our operating budget for next year. While we were able to pass last year’s budget without any millage increase despite state funding cuts, further state cuts this year place a greater burden on local taxpayers. As a result, the Board will discuss what combination of program reductions, use of reserves and millage increases will best serve our community’s needs. We look forward to your feedback.

Here's the thing.  Josephine claimed in the meeting last week that the high school project had nothing to do with the tough budget this year.  I know it doesn't make sense.  But it DOES make sense to Josephine because she never saw any of the project as a tradeoff.  It was never, "I can have this OR I can have that."  It was, "We just need to raise taxes to get it."  That's the mentality she and others on the board have.  So technically she is right. Today's budget shortfall isn't about the high school project because they already raised taxes to "pay" for it.  There was no tradeoff of bond payments for teachers.  It was all paid for by a tax increase instead.  And when you think back, that is the mentality that drove this project.  There was never an understanding by many of the BOSN people that if you get $5 million a year in bonds, that you have to give something back.  The District never gave anything back.  They 100% raised taxes to pay for the school.  There was NO PAIN associated with the bond payments.  The majority just thought the taxpayers would absorb the shock and move on.

Tradeoffs...

Oh, we're paying attention

In today's PG article, Not concerned about budget cuts to public education? Then you are NOT paying attention, Judy Wertheimer writes:

Oh, and by the way, your school board may be considering a property tax hike (which, as of this writing, holds true for Mt. Lebanon, Pine-Richland and North Allegheny, to name just a few of the districts that are keeping that option on the table).

And...

Think you're immune? Think again. Pine-Richland saw 11.4 percent of its state funding disappear in the last round of cuts; Fox Chapel Area, 10.8 percent; North Allegheny, 8.2 percent; Bethel Park 7.9 percent; and Mt. Lebanon, 7.4 percent. Each of these cuts amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars per district.

As a certified, card-carrying fear monger/whiner (so I've been told), this is why we haven't supported the high school renovation project plans - if we're ever allowed to see them.

Bottom line: How many teachers, aides and classes can your school get by without -- who can be let go? That's the conversation.

Ms. Wertheimer, we're paying attention.  It is just that the school board isn't listening.

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.