The first half of the Mt. Lebanon school board's Monday budget meeting focused on what school directors termed "nickel and dime" cuts to reduce the 1.53-mill tax hike in the proposed preliminary budget.

The proposed cuts, suggested by department heads and administrators, included such measures as reducing purchases of sheet music and textbooks, photocopying elementary math work sheets rather than giving each child a color copy and forgoing preventative maintenance on microscopes.

But the meeting took a turn in another direction when board President Mark Hart dropped a bombshell of sorts saying that he believed the only way to make significant cuts in the spending plan is to reduce staff.

He then asked finance director Jan Klein to provide to the board a list of all employees from the top down, but said he had no specific plans on what positions should be cut.

Mr. Hart likened the scenario to one he experienced recently with the Steelers, where he is the director of business.

He said shortly after the Steelers signed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a new eight-year contract worth $102 million this month, Steelers chairman Dan Rooney came into Mr. Hart's office and instructed him to reduce photocopying in order to save money.

Mr. Hart said he agreed to the request, but then he explained to Mr. Rooney that the savings would be very small and that the organization's biggest expenses are people.

The situation is the same with the school district, he said, citing the fact that of the proposed $73 million budget, $55 million "is related to the cost of people."

Mr. Hart said that number is projected to grow to $62 million within three years. "There's no amount of sheet music" that can make up that difference, Mr. Hart said.

The only other talk of staff reduction at the meeting was from Ms. Klein, who said there would be a review of the elementary staff to see if some positions that will be open due to retirements could be left empty.

Though several board members indicated they have concerns about the district's increasing costs, none commented specifically on Mr. Hart's proposal to cut staff.

School Director Dan Remely said he was frustrated that the budget included a proposal to add boys lacrosse as a WPIAL sport at a cost of $37,863, yet it proposed saving $721 by reducing enrollment fees and supplies for academic competitions and reducing the number of students who could attend the National Academic Games competition.

Several board members, including Josephine Posti, questioned what would happen to building and grounds maintenance if the summer maintenance staff is reduced as proposed.

School director Sue Rose asked if funds could be taken from the district's fund balance to offset the need for some cuts. The board currently maintains a fund balance of 7.29 percent, though board policy calls for a 6 percent fund balance.

Ms. Klein said the board could take action to transfer money from the fund, but that she recommended keeping the 6 percent limit.

Community members who lined up at the microphone appeared split between those who supported the proposed cuts and Mr. Hart's idea and those who said they'd rather pay higher taxes than see any cuts to the budget.

William Lewis reminded the board that 76 percent of the "dwelling units" in Mt. Lebanon do not have children in school and said it was unfair to foist tax increases on the community each year.

But David Cochran and Elaine Labalme were among those who said they'd be willing to pay higher taxes to keep the quality of the school system where it is now. Mrs. Labalme said her family moved to Mt. Lebanon from San Francisco just so that her son could attend Mt. Lebanon schools.

Mr. Cochran said he moved to Mt. Lebanon when he was single and didn't mind supporting the school system with his taxes before he had children. He suggested that residents who don't want to pay higher school taxes should leave Mt. Lebanon.

That comment prompted Paula Bongiorno to tell the board she felt "like I've been slapped in the face." Mrs. Bongiorno is a regular at school board meetings who has no children in the schools and often urges fiscal responsibility.

Mrs. Bongiorno said "it's wonderful" that parents are willing to pay more taxes to support the schools, but that she knows a number of people who cannot afford any real estate tax hike.

Echoing her comments was Cal Lynch, who said he was "insulted at the 'don't like it you can leave' " attitude. Mr. Lynch suggested an outside audit of the district's curriculum and staff.

The board's next budget meeting is 7:30 p.m. Monday in the high school library.