What is behind the calls for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to vote on a special tax to fund Philadelphia schools?

While everyone agrees that Pennsylvania needs a new school funding formula, the fight here is about the wisdom of stop-gap measures such as the $2-per-pack cigarette tax proposed by Philadelphia.

“They need to pass a fair school funding formula with funds behind it,” argued Donna Cooper, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY).

Her organization sent several dozen advocates to the Capitol Monday to call for passage of the tax authorization measure so Philadelphia schools can open on time and without teacher and staff layoffs.

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, agreed.

“I don’t think a $2 cigarette tax for only Philadelphia is smart policy, but desperate times call for desperate measures,” she said.

She added the 36 percent the Commonwealth spends on basic education is not enough and lags behind 40 other states as she called for a 50/50 split in how education is funded.

“How we educate our kids is absolutely everything, it is our future,” she stated.

Acting Secretary of Education and Basic Education Funding Formula Commission member Carolyn Dumaresq, through a spokesman, was of a similar mind on the effects of a new funding formula.

“The Secretary believes that a new funding formula would not just be beneficial to Philadelphia School District, but to all public schools across the state,” said Education Department spokesman Tim Eller. “The Secretary looks forward to working with her colleagues on the commission to put into place a school funding formula that is sensitive to the changing demographics of Pennsylvania’s public schools.”

Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) said stop-gap measures like a cigarette tax are only a short term fix, while the rising tide of a new funding formula will lift all boats.

“I know they need their money, but the reality is that [the cigarette tax] is going to be a short-term fix,” he told The PLS Reporter.

He said the issue boils down to whether the status quo should be maintained or a broad fix implemented.

“Do we keep pouring money into the old formula or do we make it better from a broad sense,” Rep. Vereb said.

The Corbett Administration agreed the cigarette tax is not a long-term solution.

“The cigarette tax plugs a hole,” said Jay Pagni, Gov. Tom Corbett’s press secretary. “Advancing the money does nothing but move the payment forward.”

Pagni said things like pension reform could also help save education dollars in the School District of Philadelphia.

Chairman of the Philadelphia Delegation Rep. Cherelle Parker (D-Philadelphia), however, argued Philadelphia schools cannot wait until a new funding formula is crafted and that there is an immediate need for the additional tax revenue.

“Philadelphia is so far behind that even if we do get a funding formula that is fair, that is adequate, do you know how long it would take for us to increase the number of AP courses, to add back the number of extra-curricular activities back and all of the things that have been lost in the district since we’ve been suffering,” she asked the PCCY crowd gathered at a Monday rally.

“We’ll need that additional recovery revenue and we need it now.”

The PLS Reporter – August 4, 2014 – Read article online