Lawmakers Add a 'Plan B' To Philadelphia Schools Funding Measure
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- City Council president Darrell Clarke has decided to play it safe, adding a fallback provision to his plan to send sales tax proceeds to the cash-starved school district.
It was one week ago that Clarke introduced a bill that would earmark one percent of the city sales tax hike to schools and the city workers pension fund.
Under his plan, the schools would get $120 million this coming year, but that would decrease over the subsequent four years, when the schools and pension fund would split the surtax, 50-50 (see related story).
Because his plan differs from last year's authorization by the Pennsylvania state legislature, Mayor Nutter and others voiced the concern that Clarke's measure lacked any sort of fallback provision in case Harrisburg does not go along (another related story).
Now, Clarke's reintroduced measure includes fail-safe language: a fallback position which would give the district the $120 million in perpetuity -- which was the state's original plan. Without such a provision, critics said, the district could end up with nothing.
Clarke said he decided to add what he called "a safety net" because it's possible that Harrisburg may not act before Council adjourns next month for the summer.
"We still think a balanced approach (to the sales tax revenues) is the best way to go to solve two issues," Clarke told KYW Newsradio. "But what we can't do is allow ourselves to be in a position that -- if there are some changes in the existing state provision or some changes in the proposal that we put forth -- that we're not in a position to take advantage of the sales tax."
"So, we have both legislative tracks that we can follow," notes City Council majority leader Curtis Jones, "and depending on what happens at the state level, whether they pass the tobacco tax or other remedies for financial relief for the SRC [Philadelphia School Reform Commission], we'll make our moves as well."
The decision to add the fallback provision came after testimony to Council on Wednesday by school district officials about the district's own 'Plan B.'
"They were a little reluctant to say how they would address this massive deficit," Jones said. "If we have to question them about a Plan B, we'd better have a Plan B, too."
Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez was pleased with the language in the new legislation.
"I think it's important that, no matter what, this Council's committed to the $120 million (for schools)," she said. "And I think its important to put that on the table so that we can move to the discussion about the additional $75 million that's needed." (See related story.)
Councilmembers and Mayor Nutter are still hoping that the state legislature this spring will approve a $2-per-pack tax on cigarettes, with the proceeds earmarked for the schools. Legislative leaders in both chambers have indicated that is unlikely to happen.
Even if the district gets the $120 million, officials say they would need $96 million above that from the city and/or the state just to maintain the level of services they provided this year.
Without those funds, further cuts would be needed (another related story).