posted by Joe Polk at 1:27 AM /
Mt. Lebanon officials hope to see the assessed value of properties rise at least 20 percent in 2012, but its proposed budget unveiled this week still calls for a property tax increase just to keep services at the current level.
The $28.9 million operating budget released Tuesday keeps most municipal services -- such as police, fire protection and library hours -- at current levels, while increasing other budget areas, such as road reconstruction. It updates Mt. Lebanon's master plan for development, said Municipal Manager Steve Feller.
Read the full article:
The $28.9 million operating budget released Tuesday keeps most municipal services -- such as police, fire protection and library hours -- at current levels, while increasing other budget areas, such as road reconstruction. It updates Mt. Lebanon's master plan for development, said Municipal Manager Steve Feller.
Read the full article:
- www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_765145.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Labels: commission, municipal budget, reassessments, steve feller
2 Comments:
Its' about time.
For several years I have been in favor of the Municipality raising property taxes -- because we we have not been taking care of our stuff. There is no way around it -- services cost money, stuff costs money and taking care of stuff costs money.
It is not that there are not things to cut (or revenues to raise) in the budget -- there are, in my personal opinion.
It is that there are things people won't cut, or revenues they won't raise. And I am OK with most of that. It is a Community budget and should reflect the priorities and desires of the Community.
This being said -- I do encourage the Commission to surgically review every service level and decision unit and ensure the budget is not "all that it can be" -- but is really "no more than all it NEEDS to be."
The budget reflects a pretty steep increase, assuming the numbers in the TRIB are correct, property taxes alone are going up 15.4%.
And let's not forget the $96 per year storm water fee. After the Raja championed $30 tax break, this fee is actually a net increase of $66 per year for our homeowner.
This makes the overall tax increase 22.3%.
The actual sting from reassessments will be determined on a case by case basis -- based on how under, over or properly assessed each property currently may be, relative to the much anticipated new assessments.
For some, a net tax increase of 22.3% may be nothing more than a dream.
This is a very complex budget proposal and will undoubtedly be a work-in-progress into 2012.
Under requirements of the Home Rule Charter, a 2012 budget will be voted upon for formal adoption in mid-December by the Commission in proposed or more likely an amended form and detail; but, it can be further amended during 2012, and probably will be as well.
There will be two public hearings on the 2012 budget and at least one more public budget review session. Check the website.
Bill Lewis
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