June 30th weighs heavily on Philadelphia. That’s city council’s deadline for passing its annual budget.

It’s a date that holds particular significance for the cash-strapped School District of Philadelphia. Officials have floated several doomsday scenarios about what could happen if it doesn’t receive the additional $60 million it has asked City Council to provide. Many have said that if the school district doesn’t receive this additional funding, it will have to make extreme cuts. Those cuts could include anything from the elimination of vice principals, administrative assistants, school counselors and school aids. The doomsday scenarios also predict severe reductions to school nurses, art programs and extra curricular activities.

In response, City Council has floated several alternatives to secure the additional funding. Of the few that have made it out of committee: there are Mayor Nutter’s proposals to raise the liquor-by-the drink tax from 10 to 15 percent. Nutter also supports a $2 per pack tax on cigarettes. According to public statements made by the mayor, those taxes will raise an additional $95 million for the fiscal year, which begins on July 1st for the school district.

Then there’s the plan touted by 7th District Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez to increase the Use and Occupancy tax on businesses. The bill passed out of committee Wednesday, May 29th. The same day, Council also gave preliminary approval on a competing bill from the mayor. If passed, the Use and Occupancy rate would be set to collect the same amount this year and next. It’s predicted to generate about $114 million.

Not surprisingly, the Use and Occupancy bill sparked outrage from the business community.

As for Nutter’s liquor and cigarette taxes, both would require approval from Harrisburg for passage. And according to previously published statements, Republicans in the state capital have displayed reluctance when it comes to giving Philadelphia a new tax collection authority.

To complicate the Mayor’s proposals, restaurant and bar owners vehemently oppose liquor tax. In fact, they have formed the group, the “Hospitality United of Philadelphia” to oppose it. Subsequently, Hospitality United of Philadelphia, which includes bars, restaurant owners, suppliers, brewers and beer distributors, is in the process of hosting fundraisers to fight the tax’s implantation. And according to published reports from the campaign’s director William Miller V, the group will use the funds to “fund a campaign, run ads on TV or radio, whatever we need to do to defeat this. You’d be taking this money from businesses,” Miller explained, “that are already paying the liquor tax.”

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance organized a demonstration last Wednesday, May 29th in City Hall’s courtyard with the PCCY, AKA “The Picasso Project” and included students from Powel Elementary. According to Regional Director Nancy Delucia, it was one of many demonstrations the Cultural Alliance has organized citywide to ensure that the school district does not have to cut funding for invaluable art programs and extra circular activities.

“We want City Council to work closely with leaders in Harrisburg to come up with a long-term solution,” explained Ann Pomerantz, a parent of children in both Powel Elementary and Masterman High School.

To illustrate their point, Powel students stood behind the terracotta warriors they had constructed after receiving a grant from the PCCY. While standing, they beat drums and chanted lyrics they had written on the subject such as: “Hey, People, talking to you, stand, up defend and show you care.” As the children sang, parents held placards displaying slogans such as “Where the Frack is our School Funding?” and “We Need a School Counselor”.

The students, lead by PCCY’s Gretchen Walker then marched inside City Hall to repeat the performance in front of Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell’s Office. Representing the 3rd District, Blackwell serves the neighborhood where Powel’s located.

“This is a beautiful and exciting surprise,” Blackwell told the children, going on to explain, that City Council planned to consider 12-15 bills addressing the school budget. “We have issues with the state. But everyone wants to do their best,” Blackwell explained.

The children then proceeded to perform. Afterwards, they presented the Councilwoman with a petition of 1,000 signatures along with 550 letters asking that City Council release the additional $60 million to the school district.

During the performance, several city employees stopped to watch the children perform. At one point, an intern from Councilman Jones Office came out to gather more information about the demonstration.

“It’s going to be a hard day,” Councilwoman Blackwell told this reporter once the demonstration concluded. “Its always hard when kids are involved […and] Powel is a ‘Preferred School’ in my district.” As for the bills currently considered in Council, Blackwell said she supported the tobacco tax. “But I don’t support the liquor tax because it will hurt small businesses.”

University City Review – June 12, 2013 – Leer artículo en línea