Patch Poll: What Should Be President Obama's Top Priority in His Second Term?

The issues are many, but which stands out as the one most important to America?

A flurry of festivities will set Washington, D.C. in motion this week as President Barack Obama is sworn in Monday for his second term in office. With "Faith in America's Future" as the theme for the 2013 inauguration, the celebration will reflect the country's perseverance and unity, as well as commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol Dome in 1863. The inaugural address, parade, and a number of balls and galas that honor the president will have a certain priority of their own. But when the hoopla dies down, there's some serious work to be done. Through the last year, our Patch Polls have focused on some of the major issues facing the country. This week, …

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JS

10:14 am on Monday, February 4, 2013

The first three articles that come up when you google Obama's jobs council disbanded. All mention early on that it had a 2 year charter. http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/01/31/obama-boehner-jobs-council-unemployment/1880481/ http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/01/31/obama-jobs-council-is-disbanding/ http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/31/white-house-announces-it-no-longer-needs-a-…   more ›

Crescent Approves Budget at 6.4 Mils

Commissioners pass 2013 spending plan.

Crescent commissioners approved the township's $1.8 million 2013 budget, re-adjusting the township's millage rate to 6.4.  The budget was approved following the board's Dec. 27 meeting, one week after Allegheny County Judge Robert Gallo approved the township's petition to increase the budget 13 percent from the previous year.  The budget marks an $801,437 increase from 2012's spending plan; following property re-appraisal estimates for the community, the millage was lowered from 2012's rate of 6.5 mils.  Municipalities must receive court approval before increasing revenues by more than 5 percent during reassessment years.  In a petition filed before the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, solicitor Richard Start said several federally …

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Allegheny County Council Passes Budget, Reduces Millage Rate

The county's tax rate will be 4.73 mills in 2013.

Allegheny County Council passed a 2013 budget that includes a millage rate decrease. On Tuesday, county officials approved a a $799.4 million budget, reducing the millage rate to 4.73 mills, according to the Tribune Review. The millage was reduced from 2012's rate of 5.69 mills to offset the increase property values stemming from the county's reassessment. Under the reassessment, taxing bodies can't receive more than 5 percent in property tax revenue so as not to use the reassessment as a major tax increase. Under the new tax rate, a resident would pay $473 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said in a statement that he is happy with the approved budget. "(I) am glad that we are able to move into…

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Sen. Pippy Resigns After Budget Vote

State Sen. John Pippy left his seat in the state Senate at midnight.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, formally resigned his seat in the Senate late Saturday after casting his budget vote.  Pippy announced in January that he would not seek re-election for the state legislature. He has served in the state Senate since 2003.  Pippy resigned at midnight, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  He called his work as a state senator the most "meaningful experience I have had in my professional career," according to the resignation letter obtained by the newspaper.  He served in the state House for six years prior to being elected to the state Senate.  Republican D. Raja, a business owner from Mt. Lebanon, is vying for Pippy's seat in the 37th district in November's general election. He may face an …

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Louisa

2:01 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012

Senator Pippy, you let us down! As a supporter of you I am confused and unhappy that that you would not finish the term you are currently serving. Would it have hurt you to serve until your succesor had been elected? I believe the residents of your district deserve more than a terse "I resign" letter. Hopefully our next senator won't leave us in a lurch without representation.   more ›

At a Glance

At a Glance: Moon School District Reveals Budget Projections

Director of fiscal services Alan Bennett provides key numbers from 2012-2013 budget projections.

Alan Bennett, director of fiscal services for the Moon Area School District, offered a 2012-2013 budget overview projection to school board members at their Monday night meeting.  Board members will take action on the budget at a later meeting. Some highlights from the preliminary budget presentation:  Estimated 2012-2013 revenue: $60,209,246 Estimated expenditures: $62,261,649, including $400,000 for contingencies End-of-year fund balance: $7,119,216 Projected amount needed to be cut to balance the budget without increasing taxes: $1,652,403, exclusive of the $400,000 budgeted for contingencies Amount of money budgeted for Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System: $3,230,039, up from $2,183,010 in the previous year's budget. 

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Library Renovation, Marcellus Shale Ordinance Dominate Board of Supervisors Workshop Meeting

Moon library's leaking roof and ordinance on drilling give supervisors plenty to consider.

Moon Township Public Library Treasurer John Shaver pleaded with the township Board of Supervisors Wednesday night to move forward with the repair of the library's roof. Shaver told supervisors the roof has been leaking for more than three years and that the library has problems with its heating and cooling systems. "It is a real shame that you are letting the township's assets deteriorate," Shaver told the board, which met for a budget workshop as well as a regular workshop meeting. "It's embarrassing that the library has gotten to this point," he said, adding that library staff now must use buckets to collect rainwater that enters through the leaking roof. In addition, Shaver told the board that the library would eventually need new …

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clearfield

9:30 pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011

Mrs. Mills is the VIce Chairperson for Allegheny County Democratic Committee. http://nancymills.blogspot.com/2010/06/nancys-bio.html We all know that Dan Onorato wants to get those drilling rigs pumping into the county property that surrounds Moon Township. Ms. Mills is very connected to the political structures within the county's Democratic system. I would suggest that there is a conflict of …   more ›

Raja Rolls Out Plan for Government Modernization

In a news conference Thursday at the Allegheny County Courthouse, D. Raja, the Republican candidate for county chief executive, highlighted key components of his six-point plan.

Playing games with the county budget can't continue, says D. Raja, Republican candidate for Allegheny County chief executive.  Raja discussed the budget, privatization and other issues as he announced his second initiative Thursday at a news conference at the Allegheny County Courthouse. The initiative is his six-point plan for modernizing county government and, in large part, addresses budget shortfalls and inflated revenues. Raja, who introduced his job creation initiative earlier this summer, began his talk by saying that “Allegheny County is essentially living on borrowed time, with regard to both budget and financial situation.” Noting that Allegheny County has spent $185 million of one-time revenues to plug budget shortfalls, has had…

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Moon Filmmaker Places Third at International Film Festival

Joe Giacobello of Bello Productions will be recognized at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in Ohio for his dark comedy, "Ultimate Reality."

Most people would say that a filmmaker with no budget is out of luck.  Joe Giacobello, however,  would prove them wrong.  Giacobello, a Moon-based actor and director, was recently awarded third place at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival in Westlake, Ohio, for his dark comedy, "Ultimate Reality." With nothing but a few dollars out of his own pocket, Giacobello created an award-winning feature-length film, starring himself and several other volunteer actors from the Pittsburgh area.  This is the second film his production company, Bello Productions, has made.  The first movie, "Doing Therapy," also won awards at several film festivals around the country, including Best Romantic Comedy at the Indie Gathering in 2006.  “Ultimate …

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Property Taxes Won't Rise Under Budget Approved by Moon School Board

The $57.1 million preliminary spending plan calls for staffing and service cuts.

The Moon Area School Board unanimously approved a preliminary $57.1 million budget for the district's 2011-2012 school year, cutting spending by 4.5 percent from last year's budget. The budget includes no property tax increases, but Alan Bennett, director of fiscal and school services, said many services, including a before- and after-school tutoring program, will be eliminated. "We really had to look at everything," Bennett said of the budget reductions, which include supplies and equipment from nearly all areas of the district. "Everything was on the table." Bennett also said more staffing cutbacks in the district will need to be made under the proposed budget but declined to discuss the specifics of those staff changes. "Those [staff …

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bill

7:29 am on Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Actually, should it be "a special foot"? Waiting for your reply Bob.   more ›

Moon Superintendent: Proposed State Budget Could Mean Cuts, Furloughs

Gov. Tom Corbett seeks $500 million reduction in the state's public education budget.

Donna Milanovich, superintendent for the Moon Area School District, said the district must re-evaluate its budget in light of proposed drastic cuts in state education funding. Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled a $27.3-billion proposed budget for Pennsylvania on Tuesday. His budget plan calls for significant cuts to many state programs, including about $500 million for basic education. The governor also called for school districts to  hold the line on spending even if it means a pay freeze for school employees. Milanovich said the reductions were more severe than the district had anticipated. She said the proposed budget will account for $1.45 million in funding cuts to the district this year. In addition, the governor's elimination of …

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