posted by Tom Moertel at 3:04 PM /
With the Act 34 hearing for the high-school renovation approaching, and with updated budget forecasts now available, school-board directors are trying to get their messages to the community.
On Friday, February 5, 2010, Josephine Posti updated her blog with a new article, “Bottom Line.” In the article, she discusses how the renovation will affect property taxes. Over the next few years, the project will cause taxes to increase by about 3.4 mills or 14 percent. To help residents understand how the increase works out for their own households, she links to a table of millage increases that shows the typical increase for various home assessments. For owners of homes assessed at around $200 thousand, the bill for the renovation works out to about $57 more per month ($675 per year). If the renovation comes in below the $113-million maximum, which Mrs. Posti expresses confidence that it will, the new taxes would be correspondingly lower.
On Saturday, February 6, 2010, James Fraasch posted “The Blitz Is On,” in part a response to Mrs. Posti’s article. He points out that any financial decision, while appearing sound on its own, may be unwise in light of the larger financial picture. He goes on to show that our school district’s financial picture, when considered as a whole, is concerning:
On Friday, February 5, 2010, Josephine Posti updated her blog with a new article, “Bottom Line.” In the article, she discusses how the renovation will affect property taxes. Over the next few years, the project will cause taxes to increase by about 3.4 mills or 14 percent. To help residents understand how the increase works out for their own households, she links to a table of millage increases that shows the typical increase for various home assessments. For owners of homes assessed at around $200 thousand, the bill for the renovation works out to about $57 more per month ($675 per year). If the renovation comes in below the $113-million maximum, which Mrs. Posti expresses confidence that it will, the new taxes would be correspondingly lower.
On Saturday, February 6, 2010, James Fraasch posted “The Blitz Is On,” in part a response to Mrs. Posti’s article. He points out that any financial decision, while appearing sound on its own, may be unwise in light of the larger financial picture. He goes on to show that our school district’s financial picture, when considered as a whole, is concerning:
So when you see people say that the high school might mean a 14% increase in taxes ... and that’s the “Bottom Line”, it kind of misses the point entirely. The Bottom Line isn’t just a single expense. The Bottom Line is the forecast we received last Thursday. And that Bottom Line is ugly! From 2009–2010 to 2014–2015 the millage is projected/estimated to rise from 24.11 to 33.31, a 38.15% increase in taxes.Neither of the directors’ blogs allows comments, so if you want to comment on either or both articles, feel free discuss them here on Blog-Lebo.
Labels: high school renovation, james fraasch, jo posti, property taxes
4 Comments:
And a *broader view* even yet beyond just the HS project & overall budget forecast out to 2115-16 is the editorial in todays Trib entitled "TAX, TAX, TAX, A 'Bam Wham " indicating a scary series of very likely federal tax increases we face in 2011. Following this, do not doubt that we will also be in the sights of all other elected officials for PA, County & Municipal tax & fee increases before we know it !
Hold on to your wallets & purses...it's not going to be a fun ride. And the last thing we need is a *Taj Mahal* high school.
Relative to the District's recent FAQ on the High School Project, available here:
http://www.mtlsd.org/highschoolrenovation/boardfaq.asp
I sent a letter to the Superintendent, available here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/26532131
How can any of us take comfort in the management of this project when the school board members can't even agree on the basics?
Some board members are telling residents not to read the budget because the numbers will change.
That attitude does not give me confidence in the board or the administration.
Worse yet some PTA Council members want to censure James Fraasch for telling the truth.
Do you know the Board has a new budget dated 2/03/2010 showing a 45% real Estate Tax increase by 2015-2016. The Earned Income in the District goes up only 18.9%. I hope that works for you.
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