Pa. Rep Roebuck: Where is Parking Authority’s money?

When the state took over the Philadelphia Parking Authority in 2001, legislators promised that the Philadelphia School District would reap financial benefits from the deal.

State Rep. James R. Roebuck Jr. (D., Phila.) wants to know why the district has received only $4 million. He has introduced a resolution calling for a legislative audit of the Parking Authority.

"Six years ago, promises were made that the Parking Authority could be run in a more efficient manner," Roebuck said in a statement. "It was argued that a portion of the savings would be transferred to the Philadelphia School District. However, since that time the authority only has provided a onetime transfer of $4 million in 2004 to the schoolchildren. Where is the other money that was promised in 2001?"

A Parking Authority spokesman was unavailable for comment today.

Roebuck pointed out in an interview today that when then-House Speaker John Perzel (R., Phila.) introduced the takeover legislation in 2001, he said Parking Authority revenues could total as much as $44 million a year and would provide a steady funding source for city schools.

"It advanced with the assertion that it would provide money for the schools," Roebuck said. "That hasn't happened. The question is, why hasn't it?"

Marty O'Rourke, a Perzel spokesman, said Perzel was surprised by Roebuck's resolution because the Parking Authority is audited annually, the report is turned over to both the legislature and the city, and the information is publicly available.

"And the Philadelphia city controller is in the process of doing an audit as we speak," O'Rourke said.

In 2004, Gov. Rendell signed into law an amendment directing the Parking Authority to transfer the first $25 million in revenues to the city and additional revenue to the school district.

That fiscal year, the authority collected $29 million and sent $4 million to the district. The district has not received any parking revenues since, a district spokesman confirmed today.

Roebuck, chair of the House Education Committee, noted that the city and the state had increased funding for the city schools in the last five years but said other revenue sources were needed.

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission is making cuts and seeking more funds to balance its $2.18 billion budget.

Roebuck's proposal calls for a nine-member oversight panel that would investigate the Parking Authority's operations, audit its finances, and hold public hearings on its performance.

House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese would appoint five members; Minority Leader Sam Smith would name four.

Under the resolution's timetable, the panel would submit a preliminary report to the House by Feb. 29, an interim report by May 1, and a final report by June 1.

Roebuck said that although the resolution was not likely to have an immediate impact on district finances, the Education Committee was exploring long-range funding options.

The resolution was introduced Tuesday and sent to the House Transportation Committee for consideration.