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School district and county officials from across Pennsylvania came to Harrisburg Tuesday with a message for state lawmakers: prioritize investments in our schools, county health services, and infrastructure over new tax cuts.
Years of state tax cuts have shifted more costs onto local communities and taxpayers. For lawmakers now, the next step must be to do no more harm, delay new tax cuts, and restore funds to schools and human service programs.
WHYY had this report:
"This isn't a Republican or Democrat issue," said Ronald Williams (pictured above), a GOP member of the Pottstown school board in Montgomery County. "This is an issue that has to do with the future of our children."
Throughout the last few years, Pennsylvania schools have been reeling due to state cuts, skyrocketing pension costs and the economic downturn.
The Philadelphia district, despite already cutting nursing staff and moving to close dozens of schools, is facing a $304 million budget deficit next year...
Blue Mountain School District Superintendent Robert Urzillo said Philadelphia is not alone in its budget crunch.
In recent years, Urzillo said, his district's class sizes have increased, while the number of high-school electives has dropped.
The rural district, located in Schuylkill County, has even started charging for kids to participate in extracurricular activities.
"There's not much more we can do," Urzillo said.
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