Mount Lebanon board previews 3.5% tax increase as surplus grows to $1.04 million
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Summary
The Mount Lebanon School District presented a preliminary 2026–27 budget that would raise property taxes 3.5% (about 1.083 mills), generating roughly $2.9 million while reporting an unexpected $1,043,751 projected surplus; the board will vote on the preliminary final budget April 13 and adopt the final budget May 18.
The Mount Lebanon School District on April 6 reviewed a proposed 2026–27 preliminary final budget that includes a 3.5% real-estate tax increase, district officials said.
"This budget includes a proposed tax increase of 3.5% ... At 3 and a half percent or 1.083 mills, the real estate tax revenue increase is 2,900,000.0, approximately," said Doctor Fries (board administrator), who presented the budget timeline. Doctor Fries said the change would raise the millage rate from 30.95 this year to about 32.033 next year and that the district does not plan to use its fund balance or implement furloughs.
The treasurer, Miss Connolly, told the board the district’s projected surplus increased after a final real-estate tax deposit arrived $625,000 above the earlier projection. "With that deposit, our projected surplus is now $1,043,751," Miss Connolly said.
Why the revenue exceeded projections: Miss Connolly said she had used conservative estimates and that additional late payments and more aggressive collection by the delinquent-tax collector (WBK) and coordination with the solicitor’s office generated the higher-than-expected deposit.
Board members were directed to a public budget forum recording and materials on BoardDocs. Doctor Fries outlined the schedule: the board will vote on the preliminary final budget at its April 13 meeting; the certified real-estate values and homestead/farmstead exceptions will be issued in May and the district expects to adopt the final budget on May 18.
What it means for taxpayers: The administration estimated the tax change equates to roughly 1.083 mills and an approximately $2.9 million increase in real-estate tax revenue; exact homeowner impacts will depend on the certified assessed values and the homestead/farmstead exceptions the Pennsylvania Department of Education issues in May.
Next steps: The board will consider the preliminary final budget at its April 13 meeting and the district will post budget materials for public review. Any changes before final adoption will be reflected in the May hearing.
