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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 2, 2013 02:34 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Cherelle L. Parker |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | School District of Philadelphia Local Funding Options |
| In the very near future, I plan on introducing legislation that will address the financial issues confronting the School District of Philadelphia by enabling the City of Philadelphia to impose a cigarette tax to provide much needed funding to the School District. Despite years of reforms and budget cuts by the School District of Philadelphia that have totaled hundreds of millions of dollars, the School District of Philadelphia faces a $304 million deficit. The School District requested additional recurring revenue from state and local revenue, as well as reductions in operating costs, to address the fiscal crisis they are facing. Schools across our City almost did not open at the beginning of this school year due to the deficit; however, the schools did open their doors to students stripped of extracurricular activities and inadequate staffing of teachers, principals, guidance counselors, and other essential school staff. Philadelphia City Council has already given unanimous approval to a $2 a pack levy on cigarettes sold in Philadelphia. Authorization from the state is now required to implement this measure which is expected to raise $46 million locally for the School District in its first year, and $90 million in its second and subsequent years. While the School District of Philadelphia continues to wait on the one-time appropriation of $45 million promised to the School District of Philadelphia per Act 71 of 2013 (Fiscal Code), as well as other state measures, the recurring revenue generated from the implementation of this tax is a local tool needed to assist the School District. In addition to support of this legislation from the City Council and Mayor of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce has also voiced their public support of this legislation to assist our financially struggling Philadelphia schools. Furthermore, please note that this legislation was also introduced in June 2013 in the Senate via Senate Bill 944. It received an affirmative vote from the Senate Finance Committee and is currently awaiting action in the Senate Appropriations Committee. In closing, I thank you in advance for your support of this legislation benefiting the children in the School District of Philadelphia. |
Introduced as HB1751