Mt. Lebanon School Board Adopts Budget Without Releasing Figures | The Locally Times
The school board approved its 2026-2027 budget on May 18, but public records for the two-month process lack any revenue, spending, or tax rate figures.
The Mt. The vote concluded a budget process spanning from March to May that included board discussions, a public forum, and a preliminary vote. However, public records associated with these events do not contain specific financial data, leaving total revenues, expenditures, and potential property tax impacts undisclosed. The adoption of the budget without the release of its core financial components prevents public scrutiny of how the district plans to allocate taxpayer funds for the upcoming fiscal year. ## A Timeline of Votes Without Figures The district’s budget process unfolded over four publicly noticed meetings, yet none of the corresponding records include the detailed financial documents that were presumably the subject of discussion and votes. While this timeline establishes a procedural calendar, the records for these dates consist only of the meeting titles. No attached documents, presentations, or summaries provide the actual budget figures that were reviewed, discussed, and ultimately approved. ## Fundamental Questions Unanswered The absence of financial documentation from the public record means that fundamental questions about the district’s fiscal plan remain unanswered. The adopted budget’s total revenue and spending amounts are not specified. The sources of that revenue—whether from local property taxes, state funding, or other streams—are not detailed. Furthermore, the records do not show how the funds are allocated. There are no line-item expenditures available for review, making it impossible for residents to see funding levels for instruction, administration, athletics, building maintenance, or other district operations. Records do not specify if staffing levels were changed or if any programs were cut or expanded. ## Impact on Public Oversight Without access to the budget document, residents cannot assess how the 2026-2027 plan compares to previous years’ spending or analyze the financial justifications for any changes. The property tax millage rate, a key component of any school budget with direct financial consequences for homeowners, is not stated in the available records. The district has fulfilled a schedule of meetings, but the lack of accessible information curtails meaningful public oversight. The public records associated with the budget adoption timeline do not indicate when, or if, the district will post the complete financial plan.