School board members in Mt. Lebanon are poised to approve a preliminary budget for 2009-2010 that includes a .30 mill tax increase with cuts to some programs and travel.
This projected tax increase figure could change by the time the board approves the final budget. The preliminary budget will be on display for 30 days after April 13. The projected tax hike is .70 mills less than permitted under Act 1.
Act 1 is a state law which outlines a process school districts must adhere to if they plan to increase taxes beyond pre-set limits. The law aims to ease the financial burden for home owners by providing school districts the means to lower property taxes, especially senior citizens, via the funding provided by gaming revenue.
Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/04-15-ML-school-budget-B
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
2 comments:
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This is the smallest of ever-increasing annual millage increases.
ReplyDeleteKinda like slowly boiling a lobster, only it's taxpayer money instead.
Has your pay gone up during the last year?
Mr. Allison has done a commendable job on the “proposed final” budget. Even with a modest millage increase, the total 2009-2010 expenditure budget is LESS THAN the actual spend for the 2007-2008 fiscal year – by about $1,000,000.
ReplyDeleteAbout half of the expense decrease is because last year the Board removed Retiree Healthcare from the General Fund. As it stands, retiree healthcare is left to be funded from surplus funds lying around the coffers. Eventually it will have to find a home in the budget.
It appears the tax increase is nevertheless necessary in that other revenue lines are projected to decline next year.
Note to School Board: Earned Income Tax revenue is projected in 2009-2010 to be 2.8% BELOW actual collections in 2007-2008.