School taxes no doubt will be increasing in our region (Pittsburgh: 2013, neighborhoods)

[gg]

Pittsburgh Public Schools consider increasing revenue from property taxes - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Keeping in mind after 2013 there will be no windfall in place. That being said, people will see sharper increases per mil they raise. The future of all this school funding looks pretty bleak. Not just for the city though. It is for our whole region.

[mountainlove]

This is absolutely true. Not just for our region, but for the entire state. In addition to our local reassessment issues, a huge factor is Gov. Corbett. He was largely supported in his election bid by private groups from out of state with an anti-public education agenda, and has been working with his state congress to follow through on his promises by cutting funding to public education every year since he has been in office.

Opponents of the state cuts have argued that this is going to cause a rise in local tax rates to cover some of the shortfall caused by the state cuts. This is starting to happen. However, the impact of the state cuts on local shares in upper end school districts is less because in more upscale communities they already fund nearly all (approximately 85%) of the school's operating budgets. The state cuts are really being felt in the exact districts that can afford it least. It is definitely a mess right now.

There is an easy solution that every other state in the country who has extensive gas drilling is utilizing, but that our governor is fighting against. There has been pressure over the last few years for the Marcellus gas companies to pay fees which could easily cover the tax reduction to the people of PA but Corbett is the biggest opponent to those fees...oh wait, the Marcellus drilling companies gave millions in campaign support to Corbett's election campaign and bought him off from the beginning. Now it all makes sense...

The state cuts

[WhoIsStanwix?]

So, 11 years without an increase in school tax, which, by the way, is limited by law to 1.7%, and you're freaking out?

[sealie]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

So, 11 years without an increase in school tax, which, by the way, is limited by law to 1.7%, and you're freaking out?

You make it sound like he needs a special occasion. Spontaneous freaking out is the best kind.

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

So, 11 years without an increase in school tax, which, by the way, is limited by law to 1.7%, and you're freaking out?

Unfortunately, that 1.7% increase will hardly put a dent in just the pension shortfall, let alone all of the fixed costs of running the school district(s) . I can see a lot of school districts trying to convince the Harrisburg bureaucrats to waive this limitation, as has been done (and granted) in the past.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by mountainlove

This is absolutely true. Not just for our region, but for the entire state. In addition to our local reassessment issues, a huge factor is Gov. Corbett. He was largely supported in his election bid by private groups from out of state with an anti-public education agenda, and has been working with his state congress to follow through on his promises by cutting funding to public education every year since he has been in office.

Opponents of the state cuts have argued that this is going to cause a rise in local tax rates to cover some of the shortfall caused by the state cuts. This is starting to happen. However, the impact of the state cuts on local shares in upper end school districts is less because in more upscale communities they already fund nearly all (approximately 85%) of the school's operating budgets. The state cuts are really being felt in the exact districts that can afford it least. It is definitely a mess right now.

There is an easy solution that every other state in the country who has extensive gas drilling is utilizing, but that our governor is fighting against. There has been pressure over the last few years for the Marcellus gas companies to pay fees which could easily cover the tax reduction to the people of PA but Corbett is the biggest opponent to those fees...oh wait, the Marcellus drilling companies gave millions in campaign support to Corbett's election campaign and bought him off from the beginning. Now it all makes sense...

The state cuts

Could not have said it better myself. Crookbett is just another lying sack of crap.