While the focus here has been primarily directed toward the municipality's deer, our school district has been up to their old tricks preparing the legally required Preliminary Budget, a.k.a. "fake budget."
Mt. Lebanon resident and Lebo Citizens reader, William Matthews demonstrates to the Department of Education how the District annually submits a fake preliminary budget when the “PDE will only approve referendum exceptions if the school district demonstrates a need for exceptions by adopting a balanced preliminary budget that contains a tax rate increase in excess of the school district’s index.” In his letters, Bill asks the PDE to perform a detailed review of our preliminary budget and reject the Mt. Lebanon School District 2015-2016 Preliminary Budget.
Yesterday, I received the following email from Bill:
To: tsteinhauer <tsteinhauer@mtlsd.net>
Cc: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>; jklein <jklein@mtlsd.net>; tpeterson <tpeterson@tuckerlaw.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 11, 2015 6:11 pm
Mt. Lebanon resident and Lebo Citizens reader, William Matthews demonstrates to the Department of Education how the District annually submits a fake preliminary budget when the “PDE will only approve referendum exceptions if the school district demonstrates a need for exceptions by adopting a balanced preliminary budget that contains a tax rate increase in excess of the school district’s index.” In his letters, Bill asks the PDE to perform a detailed review of our preliminary budget and reject the Mt. Lebanon School District 2015-2016 Preliminary Budget.
Yesterday, I received the following email from Bill:
Dear friends and neighbors.
The School District's approach in preparing its Preliminary Budget, continues to disappoint.
The attached letters have been sent to our Superintendent and School Board, and I am sharing with you this afternoon.
Feel free to share with other friends and neighbors.
Best regards,
BillFrom: Bill Matthews
To: tsteinhauer <tsteinhauer@mtlsd.net>
Cc: schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>; jklein <jklein@mtlsd.net>; tpeterson <tpeterson@tuckerlaw.com>
Sent: Wed, Feb 11, 2015 6:11 pm
Subject: Preliminary Budget - Mt. Lebanon School District.
Dr. Steinhauer:
I submitted the attached letters to PDE this week, outlining some of my thoughts on our Preliminary Budgets.
Take care,
Bill
Mt. Lebanon School District/Pennsylvania Department of Education Preliminary Budget 02.08.15 letter
[Editor's note: Normally, the school board should have been meeting tonight, but the January 12, 2015 agenda shows: Preliminary Budget - Act 1 of 2006 requires the Board approve a Preliminary Budget on the State form before February 18, 2015. Since the Board’s February meeting is after that date, we are presenting the budget for approval in January.
The School Board also met on February 9, 2015.]
Mt. Lebanon School District/Pennsylvania Department of Education Preliminary Budget 02.09.15 letter
Dr. Steinhauer:
I submitted the attached letters to PDE this week, outlining some of my thoughts on our Preliminary Budgets.
Take care,
Bill
Mt. Lebanon School District/Pennsylvania Department of Education Preliminary Budget 02.08.15 letter
[Editor's note: Normally, the school board should have been meeting tonight, but the January 12, 2015 agenda shows: Preliminary Budget - Act 1 of 2006 requires the Board approve a Preliminary Budget on the State form before February 18, 2015. Since the Board’s February meeting is after that date, we are presenting the budget for approval in January.
The School Board also met on February 9, 2015.]
Mt. Lebanon School District/Pennsylvania Department of Education Preliminary Budget 02.09.15 letter