School officials keep pressure on Council, state for funding

WITH ABOUT two weeks left until they must pass a budget, Philadelphia School District officials continued a full-court press yesterday for more funding, urging city lawmakers to approve a short-term loan that would help narrow a massive deficit.

The district needs an additional $96 million to maintain the status quo for next year, or an extra $320 million to put schools in good working condition, officials said. Last week, City Council gave its preliminary OK to a $27 million loan, instead of $55 million the district requested.

District officials claim that the $28 million difference is significant to their budget, but would be a "pain-free" move for Council.

"This additional $28 million cost the city not one police officer, not one refurbished center and not one pool this summer," said School Reform Commission chairman Bill Green, joined by Superintendent William Hite, principals, parents and advocates, at an afternoon news conference. "It should not be this hard."

Council President Darrell Clarke responded by insisting that the district's deficit this year is "of its own making." He pointed to a deal last fall that would have given the district $50 million up front in exchange for its surplus properties. The district declined the deal and has opted to sell the properties itself.

"The school district and SRC insist they are not accountable to Philadelphia taxpayers, and would instead prefer that taxpayers borrow and pay interest to fill the current-year gap," Clarke said in a statement.

Mayor Nutter's office has supported loaning the district the full $55 million, which the city can borrow against future revenue from the extension of the city's extra 1 percent sales tax. For that to happen, however, Council would have to amend the legislation by tomorrow and return for a special hearing June 26 to vote on the measure.

Meanwhile, the district has several other irons in the fire. It is asking state lawmakers to allow Council to enact a $2-per-pack cigarette tax for Philadelphia only, which would generate $75 million next year. It is also seeking an additional $150 million from the state and $95 million in labor concessions from the teachers union.

With so many questions surrounding its funding, the SRC declined to approve a budget by May 30, the deadline set by the city charter. But it must approve a spending plan by June 30 to collect taxes in the year that begins July 1.

If extra funding does not come through, Hite said, several options are being considered, including opening schools late, closing them early, laying off hundreds of teachers, or a combination.

"The options under discussion present a range of terrible choices that no educator, in good conscience, can support," Hite said. "Time is running out to address this."