Philadelphia School District Makes Its Case For Latest Funding Stopgap
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The School District of Philadelphia today presented its request to City Council for $60 million more in emergency funding.
School Reform Commission chair Pedro Ramos (at left in photo) told Council the district has a $304-million budget gap and it needs $60 million more from the city and $120 million more from the state (see related story).
Without it, he said, assistant principals, counselors, and school sports would be cut.
"The budget, in its current form, simply cannot support the services provided this year," he told the lawmakers.
But City Council president Darrell Clarke made no promises that the city can provide any extra money.
"I'm not sure at this point that there will be (more) local funding at all," Clarke said. ""Last year in particular was very, very difficult, putting together some U&O (Use and Occupancy Tax) and some tax increases. To suggest that we can do that one more time is somewhat of a stretch."
Ramos told Clarke he would put together a Philadelphia delegation to meet with Gov. Tom Corbett to make the case for more state funding.
