Content about Daniel O'Keefe

06.17.11

The Northgate School Board can balance the coming year's budget, but it will not be able to raise taxes enough next year to fund the 2012-13 budget.

That is the rationale expressed by a majority of board members for why they plan to vote in favor of a 2011-12 property tax millage increase next week.

Finance committee chairman Daniel O'Keefe said at the board's work session on June 13 that of the $1.6 million cut from Northgate's budget for the coming year, about $1 million is a one-time savings due to retirements and staff furloughs.

05.14.11

Primary Election: Northgate School Board

There are five four-year seats and one two-year seat that will be filled in the Northgate School Board elections this year. Primary votes for cross-filed candidates could wrap this up next week, or the vrace could wait until November for a final decision.

The candidates are:

Tim Makatura Dr. Makatura, from Bellevue, was appointed to the board last August to fill a vacancy. A psychologist who works as a clinician and a college instructor, he holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, a master's degree in guidance and counseling, and a Ph.D in psychology.

05.13.11

Northgate cuts full-day kindergarten

The proposed final budget that will be voted on by the Northgate School Board Monday night will not include an increase in property taxes. It also will not include full-day kindergarten, a spring musical or a number of classes that could be lost due to teacher furloughs.

Although the board will vote Monday to approve the final proposal for spending in 2011-12, that proposal will not become the final budget until the board votes on June 20.

01.22.11

Protest spurs fee decrease

Avalon Borough will charge less for garbage collection this year, and possibly institute some new collection procedures, after a standing-room-only crowd debated officials for more than an hour and a half at Tuesday's borough council meeting.

09.24.10

Early EIT switch to save money

Earned income taxes for Avalon Borough and the Northgate School District will be collected next year by a new company, as both local government agencies have opted to hire the regional tax collector a year early.

State law -- Act 32 -- requires that EIT collection be consolidated throughout the state, in most cases on a county-by-county basis. Because of its size and population, Allegheny County has been divided into four tax collection districts, with local municipalities and school districts located in the Allegheny North Tax Collection District (ANTCD).

04.30.10

Northgate goes for max tax hike

By ROBERTA SLANINA O’BRIEN

With officials still coming up empty-handed when it comes to reducing costs, the Northgate School Board has approved a preliminary 2010-11 budget that will increase property taxes by the full 3.1 mills allowed by the state.

Initially limited to a tax increase totalling a fraction of that amount, 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.

01.22.10

Northgate start date

The post-Labor Day faction won this year's school calendar debate, so Northgate students will start school on Sept. 7 next year.

Start times at Northgate have fluctuated over the last several years depending on the make-up of the school board, with two groups equally dedicated to their views on whether classes should begin before or after the fall holiday.

12.11.09

Coin toss decides board officers

It took nine roll call votes, two recesses and a coin toss before the Northgate School Board was able to elect a new president during the reorganization meeting Monday evening.

Incumbent Charles Miklos was elected to two board seats -- one for a four-year term and one for a two-year term -- during the November general election, and chose to accept the four-year seat. That left a two-year vacancy and only eight board members available to elect new officers during the Dec. 7 meeting.

08.14.09

News Briefs

Budget cuts?

Avonworth administrators may look to budget cuts for Avonworth Elementary School in order to provide additional consulting services at the school.

Board treasurer Frank Mucha said at the board's regular meeting on Monday that the district is looking at entering into an agreement with John Esaias for consulting services for the first semester of this school year.

The agreement would pay Esaias $50 per hour, to work two days a week, at a cost not to exceed $12,500.

08.14.09

Northgate to vote on Glaser project

The Northgate School Board is expected to vote Monday on whether to spend at least $125,000 for improvements to a small Bellevue street used by students who walk to the middle - senior high school.

The Borough of Bellevue has obtained a $120,000 grant and has agreed to contribute $50,000 more toward the $300,000 project that will take over and rebuild a private portion of Glaser Avenue, and construct sidewalks along the street.