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C-M OKs 4.85-mill increase
dkeller@observer-reporter.com
Canon-McMillan School District property owners will pay more in property taxes for the 2009-10 school year.
The school board, by a 5-4 vote Monday night, adopted the budget with an increase of 4.85 mills for a total of 101.85 mills. The average impact of the increase will be $50.49 in Canonsburg, $88.49 in Cecil Township and $107.89 in North Strabane.
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Before the budget adoption, several residents asked the board not to vote for the tax increase, given the state of the economy.
No board members spoke in favor of the budget before the vote, but board member Adam Galambos said an alternative budget could deduct $1.23 million from $1.455 million, which is the entire tax increase amount. After that statement, board member Manuel Pihakis called the question, meaning there had to be an immediate vote on the budget.
It passed by a 5-4 roll call vote, though after the fact there was question about whether the vote was on Pihakis calling the question or the budget vote.
District solicitor Michael Lucas said the board doesn't vote on parliamentary procedures, such as a board member calling the question, so the vote was on the budget.
Board Vice President Kathleen Smith, who led the meeting while board President Jay Romano called in to participate, said she wanted to make sure all board members had a chance to speak about the budget.
Lucas suggested they could speak about the issue while approving the tax rates in the budget. The board voted separately from the budget adoption to enact those rates.
Board member Nick Cianelli said he had the same concerns as 95 percent of the population. He said he was offended that the administration brought the maximum increase to the board and then worked backward.
He said this isn't the only tax increase district property owners and residents face. The state could raise income taxes, he said.
Cianelli asked for an executive session to discuss contract negotiations to talk about what that could mean for the tax rate. That suggestion was defeated by a board vote.
Romano called the increase unconscionable during a worldwide recession. He asked his fellow board members to remember that the tax increase is forever.
No one else spoke about the tax rates.
However, business manager Joni Mansmann said previously that she made the recommendation to help restore the financial health of the district. The district is still whittling away at a shortfall from years of deficit spending, she said in April.
Board members Joseph Zupanic, Debbie Link, Robert Malwitz, Laura Grossman and Pihakis voted for the budget. Cianelli, Smith, Romano and Galambos voted against the budget.
Failures : 6/23/2009
I hope you board members can live with yourselves, you continually raise taxes year after year. How much next year? What will be the excuse next year global warming? You need to take some lessons from surrounding districts, how come there are schools building new multi-million dollar buildings without a tax increase. I have had a tax increase every year I've lived in the district except one. You soon will start to drive people from the district and people will not want to move to the district because of the cost of school taxes. Please show me what I get from this tax increase, you have a building with a failing roof which leaks and kids have to be moved from the classroom when it rains. You as school board members have failed the CM taxpayers. You raise taxes without looking for alternatives to the budget, I hope that isn't the way you run your household. Well CM tax payers B.O.H.I.C.A.
Teachers : 6/23/2009
So salaries and benefits make up 60% of the budget that equals 36 million dollars, well guess what it's renegiotation time, do your job school board. I see this as an opportunity to save the district money, have the teachers pay more for their benefits like the rest of us and you will save millions. But I'm sure the union will cry foul and the teachers will get their increase and still not pay for their benefits. Try to tell the teachers and the union about the hardships of the district the same way you tell the taxpayers as you raise taxes year after year and see their response. The union will say so what it's not our problem, you will give in, and there will be a tax increase again to now offset the new teachers contract. Unions have killed all major manufacturing in the US and education is the only thing that can't be sent to another country.
tax increase : 6/23/2009
Joseph Zupanic, Debbie Link, Robert Malwitz, Laura Grossman and Pihakis
me again : 6/23/2009
Millions? I'd like to see that math. Also: Teachers are not the only employees of the district.
Me Again : 6/23/2009
I really dont see much "hardship" in Cecil or North Strabane .Seems funny people living in half million dollar houses are crying foul.
tax increase : 6/23/2009
Wake up CMSD residents because these increases will keep happening unless you get and stay involved. It's amazing how the union is letting the public education system go right down the drain... Wake up residents..you only have yourself to blame because you didn't get involved. So, you think you are getting a new stadium this year..not going to happen..new school..not this year because they don't have a building plan in place yet. Yep, you got shafted another year because you didn't pay attention and now you will pay for it.
TAXES : 6/23/2009
Is it any wonder that people are taking any opportunity to get out of this area? I can never retire, not here. Will these people never quit? Will we all be living under a bridge somewhere?
tax increase : 6/23/2009
i wouldn't object to an increase we would see improvements in the schools! we've already had an increase and the c-m schools are an embarassment and some are absolute health hazards to the kids (cm middle school, where the 4th floor temp. is consistently over 90 degrees, bm elementary, mold infestation causing severe allergic reactions in kids)!!!where has the money gone?
Teachers : 6/23/2009
Here we go again, blame the teachers! They are the villians! They basically raise these kids because their dead-beat parents won't. When it comes time for compensation, the public cries foul! How dare they make more money than me, when I'm on welfare for being an alcoholic or drug addict! I am sick and tired of seeing teachers blamed for tax increases. You ever think its fiscal mismanagement by the adminstration?
Facts : 6/23/2009
Before everyone becomes completely misinformed, go to www.cmsd.k12.pa.us and read the FACT SHEET. Readers, taxpayers, & voters: Think for yourselves. Don't believe everything you read here.
to me again : 6/23/2009
THe only "foul" that is being called is the "foul smell" that comes from a school board that approves an increase without letting you know where your money is going, but maybe you're in a position to simply throw your money away.I live in a half million dollar house because I make the careful, educated decisions regarding where my money goes.....I wouldn't pay half a mill for a house and be satisfied with an outhouse, why would we pay millions more in taxes and be satisfied with an outhouse for our children? The school board has produced no plan to tell me where the money will go. Would you pay a bill that you received without knowing what it could possibly be for?...
hand in my pocket : 6/23/2009
I call B.S.. WTH happened to all of that casino money that was supposed to go around. Funny, they pull in $3M a day, but our taxes go up. Federal income tax, state tax, sales tax, school tax... where does it end?
Tax Increase : 6/23/2009
I live in North Strabane. I am not crying hardship and I certainly don’t live in a half million dollar house. The tax increase obviously won’t bankrupt me, but the problem is when will it stop? Is it any wonder why this country is in the midst of a credit crisis? The government provides a shining example of how NOT to manage a budget. They don’t have to make cutbacks because they can always come running to the taxpayers for more money. Our C-M school taxes are increasing, the state income tax is likely to increase (“temporarily”….just like the Johnstown Flood Tax and turnpike tolls), and with the skyrocketing federal budget deficit, federal taxes aren't far behind…and exactly what do we have to show for it?
Wake up call : 6/23/2009
Tax payers need to wake up!!! Vote those five jack@$$eS out of office when the next time they are up for re-election. I just moved into this school district one year ago and now I'm thinking I made a big mistake!
taxes : 6/23/2009
Budget=60 million, 60% of 60 million is 36 million, of the 36 million 31 million is teacher salaries, of that 6.5 million is paid in benefits and that is increasing by close to 600,000 every year, you can get the numbers off of CM website. A 3.5% increase is equal to 1 millon dollars and with the health care increase every year, our taxes go up. What do we as taxpayers get for our taxes? As another poster stated the school are an embarassment, go to Hills Hendersonville where there are buckets catching rain from the roof for 2 years. My guess is that everyone defending the tax increases are CM employees. And no new revenue to the district from the casino, new homes and businesses going up in the area?
Taxes : 6/23/2009
I am not sure who is up for election this November but I have printed this article so I know who I am not voting for if their name is on the ballot. With so many of us in the CM School District living paycheck to paycheck or having been laid off or had our hours reduced this is crazy. Didn't we hear that the casino money would help keep taxes down and now the school taxes increase, Rendell wants to raise taxes, Obama wants to raise taxes, how much can we take. As for the teachers, they need to get in the real world during negotiations and see what a normal person pays toward health insurance costs.
Thieves : 6/23/2009
Joseph Zupanic, Debbie Link, Robert Malwitz, Laura Grossman and Pihakis you are hereby served a notice. I will personally seek for each of your dismissals from the school board. You are the dregs of society and offer zero worth to our society. I will personally ensure that each of you are ostracized. I ask any and all who agree with me to keep the embers of our hate red hot. We must not let our guard down. My name is Anthony J. Lewandowski and I will be willing to work with all who agree to do what we can and what is within our means to right this wrong. Please respond and sread the message to all impacted. Thank you. Kudos to Cianelli, Smith, Romano and Galambos. We The People respect you.
cm atxes : 6/23/2009
why is cm one of the fastest growing districts in wester pa? because of a good school district, good teacher, who by the way are the lowest paid teachers in the area, and lower taxes than most. but i guess all the new homes going in and new families coming into the district are all wrong.
Taxes : 6/23/2009
I am relocating my family away from here. There is so much abuse of our tax money here. The education system and teachers are horrible. There are too many of our students that fail then get passed on to the higher grades. The drop-out rate is also high.
tax increase : 6/23/2009
I am quite disappointed with the results of the recent vote to increase taxes. I can not believe that this could occur ina recession. I have always spoke highly of the education that my children received from the high school. However, there needs to be a tighter approach to the budget without undue hardships on the working families. Everything continues to go up, but wages remain the same if you are fortunate enough to be working. If possible. this issue needs revisited. The average man can not continue to shoulder such increases.
tax increase : 6/23/2009
A slap in the face to all hard working taxpayers.
To Common Sense : 6/23/2009
You need to get out of your high class neighborhood and take a look around not everyone lives in a half million dollar house.
WHY NOT CUT COSTS? : 6/23/2009
Why don't these schoolboard members try to find new ways to cut costs, instead of taking the easy way out and raising taxes?? The schoolboard should really consider "PRIVATIZING" or "CONTRACTING OUT" the district's bus service. Just think how much money would be saved each year by simply doing away with the School Owned busses and instead have the bus service provided by a private contractor. Peters Twp Schools are in the process of doing this very same thing,. Why not C-M. Just think ffor a moment, C-M would not buy these expensive school busses, would not have to pay for the costly maintenance and upkeep of the bus fleet, would not have to pay expensive bus driver salaries and related insurance costs. Plus C-M could sell that fancy bus garage for a tidy sum. This is only one way to cut costs from the budget and I am sure there are many others. The C-M District should hire an efficiency expert to go over the budget and cut out any unnecessary expenditures. All of the C-M residents have had to tighten their belts in todays economy and I am quite sure that there are many ways to tighten the belt of the C-M School District.
fed up : 6/23/2009
The taxpayers are just as bad as the 5 board members, Link, Zupancic, Pihakis, Grossman, and Malwitz. Why don't you come to meetings? When there is going to be a tax increase, there should be so many people, that they wont fit into the auditorium. You just got the shaft and wait till December 1st when the new people come on, they are all union affiliated. It is only going to get worse.
Tax Increase : 6/23/2009
Not all the residence of C-M are living in half million dollar homes, some off us are struggling to get buy (look at the economy) how can you justify taking more from the people with a industrial park and a casino in the district? How does this happen? Can someone please explain this to me.
Thank the reps : 6/24/2009
The state legislature has done NOTHING to change the problems with the pension plan (pension grab) that they created. We get little money back from the Casino, but there is big money for projects they like. Place some of the blame at Solobay and White. They deserve it.
Yeah - not happy : 6/24/2009
Outraged! First of all I surely don't live in a half a million dollar home like one of the posters said. My husband and I both work full time jobs and still struggle to keep up with the mortgage and living expenses in this economy. How in the heck can now be the right time to hike the school taxes and the amount is juulous. Seems we just keep getting shafted left and right - no raises this year employers blame the economy yet taxes being raised, cost of living constantly on the rise.and now lets raise the school taxes.
stand in line : 6/24/2009
school district raising taxes, canonsburg borough 2 mil dedicated road repair tax being proposed and state wage tax going up!
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS : 6/24/2009
I do not agree with the tax increase,and I am not defending the school board members but everybody wants to complain abot them but when it comes time for elections nobody else wants to throw there name on the ballot. it is the same thing with the borough councils and township supervisors in this area. Everybody wants a change but nobody will give up any of there time to do anything about it.
The real answer : 6/24/2009
As a recent graduate of canon mac this year, and a follower of school district policy, i can give you the real answer to this real problem. As i have spent the last four years at the high school, i see what goes on everyday. Many people do not realize the wastefulness of the employees at Canon McMillan high school, and then what do we do?? we increase our budget even more to allow more waste which only will call for continual tax increases. i also wish everyone would stop bashing the entire school board, because believe it or not, they arent all bad, some of the board members actually have common sense. For those of you coming up with the great idea of making the teachers pay more for their benefits...that idea isnt new!! The members that voted against this tax increase and some past members have been trying to do that for years now...but you continually have the same old Union people like Pihakis giving the teachers whatever they want. i got news for you canon mac...ive been at the high school the last four years, and there are offically now more teachers that dont teach than ones who actually do. yes it is ashame that the bad teachers have to ruin the reputation for the good ones, and its too bad that we cant figure out a way to only reward the teachers who actually teach, but many of the teachers in the high school deserve no reward because they havent taught a single day in about 20 years. now im certainly not here to just bash teachers, because i had some really inspiring ones who have helped me and allowed me to become the person i am...but for every good teacher ive had 2 terrible ones who wonder why the students come out of their class every day with a red dot on their forhead. we have to focus on saving money, establishing a better financial base, and giving credit where credits due. it is a coincedence that the board members who voted for the tax increase are likely going to be the same ones to be willing to give the teachers whatever they want in their next contract. and Canon Mac, its a real shame with what you have to deal with for the next four years. i hope you realize you elected a board this past may that is completely for the union and will stand by them with every issue. you have darla bowman, a former secretary at the bus garage, zeffy carol, and kline and scarmazzi. they're all union people and all have relations with the union, especially through a particular board member, but ill let you figure that out for yourselves. its ashame to see people like jay romano, nick cianelli,kathy smith, and adam galambos leaving the board, because they actually are trying to help the tax payer, and they actually know whats going on, as apposed to the members who voted for this tax increase who just dont have a clue. but all i can say is...congratulations canon mac, you elected the new board thats coming on next year, and you have to live with the next four years of nothing but tax increases
school board members : 6/24/2009
these board members that everyone is praising are the same people who voted for a tax increase the previous three years. now in a tracher contracto year they are the saviors for voting against. some of you are so blind it is unreal. pihakis voted against the tax raise last year. cianelli and romano have vioted fir the raise until now. i guess when someone has an axe to grind with the teachers they will wait for the right time to spew there venom and half truths for there own agenda. look at the board history the same ones you praise are the same who voted for the tax raises in the past.
don't forget : 6/24/2009
graduate of 09... this was a PRIMARY in May. The GENERAL election is in November. No one is going anywhere, yet. Your favorite board members can still give it a go as independents or write-ins (someone correct me if I'm wrong)..
The Truth is Clear : 6/25/2009
for the person who wrote the "school board members" comment...you've failed to realize a few things. yes you may be correct in your statement about who voted when for the tax increase. however, one thing that is being highly overlooked is that in the past three years some board members voted for the tax increase because there was still hope in using tax dollars for good reasons involving helping the school district and developing a competitive school. why did pihakis vote against it?? because it wasnt a teacher contract year, so it was politics as usual. this year, the four board members who voted against the tax increase, however, have realized what is happening in our school district and the waste that is going on every day. galambos suggested an alternative to the increase which would have cut cost, saved money, and actually helped our school in the long run...and oh my...what a coincidence, pihakis voted for a tax increase the same year as the teacher contract is coming up. once again, politics as usual. take zupanic for instance. its obvious what he's doing. the guy is a lawyer, and the only reason he's on the school board is because he wants to run for another office and have the support of the union, his voting has clearly disclosed that. as far as grinding axes, the truth is i could care less about the teachers who dont do their job. and you can say whatever you want about half truths, but ive lived it for the past four years, im just making it known about what really goes on. i have no grudges with any teachers...i graduated with a very high GPA and was highly involved during my time at the high school, so i have no reason to make up any kind of lies...sure im upset i didnt get everything i should have out of some classes, but hey if some people want the student after student to learn nothing in some classes, thats their problem, and its ashame some citizens of the district dont realize it because students will only continue to be less prepared for their futures, and the students should be the main focus in education. in fact, word out on the street is that teachers union is thinking about striking next year. heres my question...how can you even THINK about doing that?? they have some of the best benefits out of any job there is in the real world today, just look at what other people are paying in health care! so then you have board members like the ones who voted for the tax increase and the new ones coming on next year who are just going to give them even more. its ashame, because many educators today have forgotten about the most important thing...THE STUDENTS! and ok, u want to call these things half truth?? well believe it or not some of the very inspiring educators we have at the high school even admit to the students that they know their colleagues dont teach, yep even the good educators realize it. for the person who wrote the "don't forget" comment. i kno the general elections are in november, and smith or galambos cannot run then. im not sure about romano or cianelli. anyway, the point of this comment is simple...many dont want to believe the truth or still deny whats really going on, but i and many others can now see it, and we can only hope something will change
just an fyi : 6/25/2009
north allegheny approved there 114 million dollar budget last night. of that %75 is for teacher salaries and benefits. thats %15 higher than cm. i guess rewarding good teachers results in a great school district. keep complaining canonsburg, about paying your teachers $35-$40k/year. that will attract some super applicants and keep the good ones from leaving.
Half Million Dollar Houses : 6/26/2009
Just because you work hard and are able to have a larger house, does not mean that those people should be look at as "oh they can afford it." A tax increase to anyone in this economy or in a good economy should not happen just because you don't want to balance the budget. The administration was asked to put together a budget with not tax incease, and the superintendant and some board members said it was a waste of time, that the business manager doesn't have time for that. First off, she has an assistant to do the menial work for her, second you are talking about $55 million versus an increased budget to approx. $60 MILLION DOLLARS. WOW, DOES ANYONE THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT? I guess not! There is so much waste in the school district, but no one wants to address it. It is just easier to raise the taxes and keep spending.
COMPLETELY CONFUSED : 6/26/2009
Maybe I am not on this planet, but from seeing newscasts, reading newspapers, talking to different people in all kinds of professions.................we are having job losses, people having their wages frozen, people taking on more responsibilty at work because there have been people let go, and those people are not getting an increase for more workload, paying more for benefits, loosing benefits and the list goes on an on. Why do any school district empoyees, CM is not alone, think that they are unique and should continue to get big pay raises, big jump steps in the contracts, $25 A MONTH co pays for FAMILY HEALTH CARE, no deductibles, 7 1/4 hour work day, paid for everything extra that they do and that list goes on and on. They should have to give concessions just like the taxpayers that are paying their contract. Because our "wonderful" legislature reps gave themselves and the teachers union a "GUARANTEED" pension, yes, guaranteed, and that fund has lost money just like our personal funds have, we, the taxpayers, will have to foot that bill coming in the near future. Hold on tight, it will be a heck of a ride. They did this because the teachers union support them, so it was payback time. Where are the taxpayers going to get all this money? Wake up and move out. Wouldn't you like to have all the money you lost? See your state reps, maybe they will fund your IRA's also with all the money you lost?
VOTING RECORD : 6/26/2009
The one above doesn't know the voting record. Go get the minutes for the voting before you speak. In order for certain people to win an election, they have to give false information to the public. Whatever it takes.
blank : 7/2/2009
im not approving or dissaproving this decision, but before people go and get in heated agruments people need to research how little of casino moneys and such there really is involved.. more housing equals more taxes but also means more students.. idk stop whining and try to help fix it without a fist fight. k thx
