Title
Calling upon the Governor and the Mayor to jointly issue an Executive Order establishing an intergovernmental fiscal oversight entity for the School District of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The School District of Philadelphia continues to face a financial and educational crisis of extraordinary dimensions. In its Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Presentation, the District requested $264.7 million in new, recurring revenues, including $105.3 million from City taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the City Council of Philadelphia is called upon to authorize the levying of Real Estate, Use & Occupancy, Sales, Liquor, Cigarette, and Net Income taxes for the benefit of the School District. Those who live, work, or own property in Philadelphia are obligated to pay these taxes, which are estimated to yield $1.009 billion in FY2015 (excluding delinquent real estate collections); and
WHEREAS, City Council has repeatedly heard and responded to the pleas from the School District for more funding by judiciously increasing certain tax rates and/or authorizing other revenue measures for four consecutive years (not counting FY2016). These measures (including the new sales and tobacco taxes) have dramatically added to the burden on Philadelphia taxpayers. Thus, for FY2015, estimated local tax revenues and City appropriations for the benefit of the School District total nearly $179 million more than in the immediately preceding year; and
WHEREAS, Despite these increases, the School District remains in desperate straits, hamstrung by a continuing structural deficit and by diminished support from the Commonwealth since FY2011. City taxpayers alone cannot rescue the School District; in the end, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is an absolutely essential partner with the City in providing funding for the operations of the School District of Philadelphia, and in restoring the School District to long-term fiscal health; and
WHEREAS, There is a continuing and critical need...
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