Did they or didn't they?

The commissioners were suppose to approve a tax increase last night, but unless you went to the meeting, there is no way of knowing until you wait for the video of the meeting.

I sent this email to our commissioners:

Commissioners,

If you voted to raise our taxes last night, how about a LeboAlert telling us about the tax increase? There is no mention of a tax increase on the municipal website. The School District updates their website right after their meeting. The only mention of the commission meeting on Facebook is a photo of Kelly Fraasch and the junior commissioner. 

Elaine Gillen

Here is what is on mtl Magazine's Facebook page:

This is how Keith McGill responds to Nick Meduho's questions about his recommended budget.

Mr. Meduho,

This email will serve as a response to all of your emails related to the Manager's 2017 recommended budget. Until the Commission approves/adopts the budget in December the budget is a draft document and as such the numbers are subject to change. To continue to expend staff time to provide a response to numbers that are subject to change is an inefficient and fiscally irresponsible use of taxpayer funds, therefore there will be no further response to these requests. 

Nick's options were to ask his questions last night right before the budget got passed.

So much for direct access to timely, relevant information.

The award-winning Mt. Lebanon Magazine is the only official magazine of Mt. Lebanon municipality, with direct access to timely, relevant information that goes to every home and business in Mt. Lebanon.

Increase State Funding for Our Taj Mahal!

No budget posted as of 3:00 PM today on the District website, but the Board still has approximately nine hours until 30 days before the vote for the Final Budget for the 2013-2014 school year in the amount of $83,249,503 at a millage rate of 27.67 (unadjusted for any change in assessed value) an increase of .54 mill(unadjusted for any change in assessed value) over the 2012-2013 school year on May 20, 2013.

What has been posted on the District website is:

RESOLUTION URGING INCREASED STATE FUNDING

WHEREAS, a significant delay in receiving the state reimbursement at Part H of the PlanCon process has already cost $1.4 million in delayed funding and will force the Mt. Lebanon School District to make, a significant delay in receiving the state reimbursement at Part H of the PlanCon process has already cost $1.4 million in delayed funding and will force the Mt. Lebanon School District to makes already cost $1.4 million in delayed funding and will force the Mt. Lebanon School District to make costly financial choices which may involve an increase in taxes, borrowing additional money or financial choices which may involve an increase in taxes, borrowing additional money or reduction of programs or services totaling over $11 million; of programs or services totaling over $11 million;

It won't be the School Board's fault when the taxes increase.
It won't be Tim Frenz from Janney Montgomery Scott LLC's fault when the taxes increase.
It won't be Jan Klein's fault when the taxes increase.
It won't be the Administrators' fault when the taxes increase.
It won't be the Master Design Team's fault when the taxes increase.
It won't be the unions' fault when the taxes increase.

It will be the PA Department of Education's fault, the agency that received our fake budget.

Not again!!!!

The county is considering another property tax increase next year. We just had a 21% tax increase this year. Seems as though the county wants to have a rainy day fund. To do this, the county may be:

• Making renewed efforts to collect county debts, including back taxes.
• Raising fees for use of county facilities like sports fields and golf courses.
• Reducing or eliminating the discount period for paying property taxes early.
• Cutting or eliminating the $15,000 homestead exemption.
• Raising taxes for 2013 by as much as another mill.

Here in Mt. Lebanon, our rainy day fund may be used to turf a field for rainy days. We do have that other rainy day fund called the stormwater fee.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/allegheny-county-could-face-another-tax-increase-councilman-warns-634776/

How much did your county taxes go up?

The Allegheny County Assessment website has been updated with the 2012 taxes. Look up your home here.  http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/realestate/Search.aspx

Reassessments 101

Marty Griffin talked about it on his show.  The PG had articles about it.  And the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy sent out A Guide to Helping Taxpayers Understand the Effects of the Reassessment.

The property reassessments are starting to hit.  We knew they were coming.  The Concerned Citizens of Mt. Lebanon circulated a petition to control the spending on the high school project. We were mocked. We were belittled. We were called fear mongers, but our school board moved forward with their plans.

Even the Judge who ordered property reassessment saw a $134,000 increase. I hope things even out with some of our elected officials. Speaking of elected officials, Joe DeIuliis was quoted in the Almanac yesterday on the municipal tax increase.

Commissioner Joseph DeIuliis, the lone commissioner who voted against the current tax hike, defended the previous tax cuts. "It was a tough time and to me, it was the prudent thing to do," he said. "People could have moved out of the area, and we wanted to keep them in Mt. Lebanon." http://www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/12-28-2011-ML-tax-hike

Yeah, that tax cut of $16.28 kept me from moving out of Mt. Lebanon.  Go to the 43 minute mark of the 12/20/2011 Commission meeting during the citizens' comments portion of the final public hearing for the 2012 Budget. As I said in the podcast, the problem is not with the Municipality.