In my local school district taxes are going up by the full 3.1 mills allowed by the state.This despite weak economic factors and growing unemployment. It seems to be a trend that school districts ignore the fact that they (along with the rest of us) have to cut back when times are tough.
Yet even our state official earn some blame here. The increase would have been a fraction of that amount except for the district successfully applied for exceptions from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that gave the school board the power to raise the millage rate beyond the annual index amount without having to obtain voter approval of a ballot referendum. How nice. How many of you think that vote would have passed?
This year's (2009-10) budget deficit is expected to be about $1 million. Currently there is $1.8 million in the reserve fund, with $800,000 allotted to balance this year's budget.
The budgetary future at Northgate is bleak, with state pension contributions escalating in the next few years to increase schools’ expenditures in that area by millions of dollars. The alarm has been ringing for some time now. It can no longer be ignored. Districts, union and our state leaders need to take a long hard look at the future of education in our state. We are paying more and often seeing less in the way of results and improving test scores.
It's time to review basic math skills when it comes to budgeting.
Pittsburgh’s 0.3 Percent Solution Is a Very Bad Idea
According to Mayor Ravenstahl there is unanimous agreement in his task force of government, university and business leaders that Pittsburgh needs a new source of revenue to bail out its ailing financial situation. We can think of a few gigantic problems with the Mayor and his task force's assessment of the situation.
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Pittsburgh Blues Festival
Eric Burdon and Kenny Wayne Shepherd are among the headliners of the 16th Annual Pittsburgh Blues Festival, a benefit for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank at Hartwood Acres July 23-25.
July 23: The Iguanas with Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band. Free with donation of a bag of noon-perishable goods.
July 24: Eric Burdon & the Animals, Sonny Moorman Group, Peter Karp & Sue Foley, and Nick Curran & the LowLifes.
July 25: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Larry McCray Band and Tinsley Ellis.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10131/1057384-388.stm?cmpid=entertainment.xml#ixzz0nfS3vYTO
July 23: The Iguanas with Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band. Free with donation of a bag of noon-perishable goods.
July 24: Eric Burdon & the Animals, Sonny Moorman Group, Peter Karp & Sue Foley, and Nick Curran & the LowLifes.
July 25: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Larry McCray Band and Tinsley Ellis.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10131/1057384-388.stm?cmpid=entertainment.xml#ixzz0nfS3vYTO
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