Green urges Wolf to sign GOP-passed budget

Philadelphia School Reform Commission member Bill Green Friday added his voice to those urging Gov. Wolf to adopt the Republican-crafted budget he has threatened to veto.

In a letter to the governor, the former SRC chairman noted that 261 days have elapsed without a new state budget, forcing cash-strapped districts to borrow millions of dollars to keep schools open.

"Your actions in December led schools to receive half of the year's funding to remedy the impact of the budget impasse," wrote Green, a Democrat like Wolf. "This action was unconstitutional as the state does not meet its legal obligation to provide for a thorough and efficient education to the commonwealth's children."

The governor has said he intends to veto a $6 billion supplemental spending plan developed by Republicans on the grounds it does not provide enough funding for schools or deal with a $2 billion deficit.

Philadelphia, Green said, has been able to keep its schools open through sound fiscal management and borrowing. But city schools and other districts cannot operate indefinitely without their full state allotments.

"While we stand behind the notion that our children deserve a budget that restores years of cuts, we have reached a point where we can no longer risk closing our doors on high school seniors days before graduation," Green wrote.

He called on Wolf to sign the budget the legislature has passed.

"I acknowledge your intent but let's admit - it is not working," Green said. "Declare victory and start working on next year."

None of the other four SRC members signed the letter, which was released late Friday afternoon.

martha.woodall@phillynews.com 215-854-2789 @marwooda