Tuesday, April 23, 2013
However, homeowners may see an increase or decrease in taxes due to the Allegheny County reassessments.
The Upper St. Clair School Board unanimously approved a final proposed budget for 2013-14 with no tax increase. However, homeowners may see a tax increase or decrease due to the Allegheny County property reassessments. The school district is not permitted by law to gain tax dollars from the reassessment process. The proposed budget has a millage rate of 21.438 and the taxes would be $2,144 for each $100,000 of assessment, resulting in a 16.6 percent reduction from 2012-13. The school board had the goal of no tax increase in 2013-14 after raising the tax millage rate by 1.618 last year. The challenges for the 2013-14 budget, according to Superintendent Patrick O'Toole, include a decline in federal funding. The federal sequestration is …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Upper St. Clair School Board does not expect to raise property taxes this year, but the countywide reassessment might throw a wrench into that plan for homeowners.
The Upper St. Clair School Board does not expect to raise property taxes this year, but the countywide reassessment might throw a wrench into that plan for homeowners. The school board unveiled its $66.3 million preliminary budget on Monday night with no plans for a tax increase. However, the actually property tax millage rate, which must be lowered so the district doesn’t net a revenue windfall, probably won’t be determined until May when the county sends out more accurate assessment figures. The township cut its millage rate by about 16 percent earlier this year, but the figures are expected to be different with more high-value commercial appeals still awaiting a decision. The 2013-14 budget expects a $160,000 boost in basic education …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Dr. Patrick O'Toole said he would like the school board to approve a budget in May instead of June.
Superintendent Patrick O'Toole said he has a "very strong desire" not to raise taxes next year. He told the Upper St. Clair School Board Monday night that the administration has no intention of applying for tax exceptions this year and has a goal of having zero tax increase. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires school boards to adopt a resolution by the end of January indicating they won't raise taxes over the state index if they plan on not filing for Act 1 exceptions, according to Business Manager Frosina Cordisco. Following O'Toole's recommendation, the school board voted in favor of moving the adoption of the 2013-14 budget up to May instead of June so there would be more time to implement changes. That means they must …
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Here are some school-related items to keep in mind as Aug. 27 approaches.
So, it seemed like yesterday that the school year ended and the kids started enjoying their summer. Not to put a damper on anything, but Upper St. Clair students will be back in the classroom in less than a month. Along with checking for sales on pens, pencils and iPads prior to that magic date of Monday, Aug. 27, you might want to keep this school-related information in mind: Student Transportation Survey In case you haven't looked closely at that nice little bill you received from the school district, the tax rate has increased for 2012-13. The reasons are myriad – in other words, pick your poison – but district officials say they're attempting to minimize the damage to your wallet. Here's a statement issued by Dr. Patrick O’Toole, …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
School board members discussed the final proposed budget for the 2012-13 school year on Monday night.
Upper St. Clair School Board members Louis Mafrice and Louis Oliverio said they would not support the 1.375 mills proposed tax increase that the school board adopted. A 1.375 mills increase is equivalent to an extra $275 in taxes per $200,000 assessed home value. Mafrice apologized for missing the May vote and said that he was out of the country for work. He said his concern is that adopting a large tax increase this year will create a habit. Oliverio proposed raising taxes by .79 mills instead of 1.375. "I'm interested in exploring the lowest amount that five people will support," he said. Business Director Frosina Cordisco said .79 mills would mean about $1 million less in tax revenue. Superintendent Patrick O'Toole said to cut $1 …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The school board is now scheduled to vote on a final budget on Monday, June 25.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Due to a conflict with Upper St. Clair Kennywood Day, the regular meeting of the Upper St. Clair School Board scheduled for Monday, June 18 at 7 p.m. has been rescheduled to Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m. In addition, the meeting of the Upper St. Clair School Board for the purpose of adopting the school district budget for the 2012-13 school year scheduled for Wednesday, June 20 at 8 a.m. has also been rescheduled to Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in the central office board room located at 1820 McLaughlin Run Rd. The board adopted a proposed final budget in May that would raise taxes by 5.7 percent. The budget is available for review in the media box to the right. The Upper St. Clair School Board Committee of the Whole meeting will still take place…
Friday, June 1, 2012
The Upper St. Clair School Board is proposing to raise taxes by 1.375 mills. Here's a look at what other boards are doing nearby.
The Upper St. Clair School Board adopted a proposed final budget raising taxes by 1.375 mills, with a total millage of 25.475 mills. That is a 5.7 percent tax increase and equivalent to an extra $275 in taxes per $200,000 assessed home value. The budget includes the elimination of seven fulltime teaching positions through attrition. The final budget will not be voted on until June 20. Here's a look at what other school boards are voting to do around the area: Baldwin-Whitehall The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board adopted a preliminary 2012-13 budget with an increase of 1.08 mills, totaling 24.48 mills. The board president said there would likely be changes to the budget before a final budget is adopted on June 30. Canon-McMillan Canon-…
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Oren Spiegler, of Upper St. Clair, writes a letter to the editor about the Upper St. Clair School Board's proposed tax increase.
To the editor: It is outrageous, but not the least bit surprising that the infamous overtax and overspend Upper Saint Clair School Board has voted to increase the tax burden ... again ... by a whopping 5.7 percent, or 1.375 mills, this in order to create a surplus rather than to allow taxpayers to retain a small amount of their hard-earned money. Board members Amy Billerbeck, Angela Petersen, Frank Kerber, and Buffy Hasko sought an even-higher hike of 1.5 mills; an amount that I trust would not cause any hardship in their family budgets. Part of the reason that Upper St. Clair is subjected to ruinous rates of taxation both by the school board and the board of commissioners, is that a family breadwinner who is employed by an entity cannot …
If approved, Upper St. Clair will eliminate 13 teaching positions in two years.
In the proposed final budget approved by the Upper St. Clair School Board Monday night, the following seven professional staff positions are being cut: In the plan, two aides will also be cut: The professional teacher reductions will result in $550,000 in savings. The two support staff cuts will equal $85,000 in savings. The positions are available for elimination due to retirements. The Upper St. Clair School District agreed not to furlough any teachers during the next two years in the recently approved contract. The new contract saves the district more than $3.7 million in its first two years. Last school year, the district eliminated six teachers and three teacher aides. There are two more school board meetings on June 11 and 18 before …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The proposal would raise taxes by 1.375 to 25.475 mills.
In a 7-1 vote, the Upper St. Clair School Board voted for a proposed final budget that would raise taxes by 1.375 mills, with a total millage of 25.475 mills. That is a 5.7 percent tax increase and equivalent to an extra $275 in taxes per $200,000 assessed home value. The proposal would bring in more than $1,376,000 in surplus that school board members said they could set aside to help fund the Public School Employees' Retirement System obligation for the 2013-14 school year, which is projected to be nearly $5.3 million. School Director Louis Oliverio was the only member who voted against the proposed budget. "I'm opposed to a budget surplus. We should leave the tax dollars with our constituents for another year," Oliverio said. He said he…
PK3
7:45 am on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Remember people the USCSD raised taxes last year close to the max and applied to the state edu. dept. for an additional increase which was granted. The USCSD strategy was to raise taxes as high as they could last year so they would not need to raise taxes this ELECTION year. Don't be a L.I.P. more ›