Archive for January 14th, 2009

By Mary Niederberger
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steel Valley School District board members appear to be committed to not raising taxes more than the 5.7 percent threshold permitted under state law this year. Districts can file for exemptions to the limits set by the state.

Seven school directors attended a Tuesday night session of the board’s financial management committee, at which they got their first glance at the preliminary 2009-2010 budget. At this point, that budget is expected to total about $28 million.

Director of Operational Services Mark Cherpak showed the board the outline for two spending plans — one held taxes at the current 21.21 mills, the other raised taxes the allowed 5.7 percent or 1.21 mills. Even with the tax hike, it appears the budget will be tight and school directors and administrators will have to find areas to make cuts based on the board discussion.

[ Full story available at: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09014/941584-100.stm ]

By Maria Sciullo
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Representatives from several Steel Valley communities got a preview of a proposed high-tech surveillance system this afternoon at the Waterfront.

Megapixel cameras mounted at key locations throughout the retail complex, which covers Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall, would be able to record and feed video to police stations.

The computerized program will not only be able to scan car license plates, but alert the police should it read a plate number already in the authorities’ database of “known” offenders. Thanks to improved computerized imaging, faces and other details on the images will be much clearer than shot by standard analog cameras.

[ Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09014/941703-100.stm ]