CITY HALL SAM: Leaders Pull Together To Save School Budget

It’s budget season, the Philadelphia School District is $300 million short and pols in City Hall and Harrisburg are scrambling to try and fill this large hole. Funding for the School District is a top priority for the Mayor, City Council and Philadelphia state legislators. The good news is that both groups of legislators are interested in trying to help the Mayor.

Over the last several weeks, City Council has passed laws authored by COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN and MAJORITY LEADER CURTIS JONES, JR. to address the delinquent property-tax issue. Their bills would require clear and concise interest and penalty rates on delinquent accounts, with partial payments on delinquent accounts to be applied to the principal amount owed first, reducing penalties and interest over time for people who stick to their repayment plans.

58TH WARD Meeting had happy surprise for Ward Leader and State Sen. Michael Stack, when committeepersons unveiled “Stack for Governor” banner. Stack, center, and visiting Ward Leader Mike McAleer whereas happily surprised. Look for official announcement day or two after State Budget is passed. Fireworks are coming. Photo by Joe Stivala

The focus on delinquent tax collection has been encouraging to Philadelphia lawmakers including STATE SEN. MIKE STACK and STATE REP. MIKE MCGEEHAN, who have been demanding action on delinquent tax collection. This positive momentum has helped Mayor, City Council, Philadelphia Senate and House Delegation relations. In fact, the Philadelphia Senate Delegation in Harrisburg seems to be more supportive of MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER than it has been for years. The Mayor has asked for help in passing a number of tax-collection reform measures and giving the City the authority to enact a cigarette tax and increase the liquor-by-the-drink tax. He seems to have strong support of the Philadelphia Senate Delegation.

The one issue that still needs some work is the liquor-by-the-drink tax. About half the members have reservations about how this tax will hit small businesses such as restaurants and taverns. Some of these businesses are reeling from AVI Sticker Shock, so another tax could hurt their bottom line. However, Nutter is only asking for the power to present such a tax increase to City Council.

The Mayor’s dealmaking is not limited to folks with a Philly zip code. He will need to get his “friend Harrisburg” to help. It is grand to watch the Mayor maneuver among the Republican big shots in Harrisburg. He desperately needs $300 million to close his huge deficit for the School District so he has to be extra-gracious to GOV. TOM CORBETT to STATE SENS. DOMINIC PILEGGI and JOE SCARNATI, SPEAKER SAM SMITH, STATE REP. MIKE TURZAI and others.

Complicating Mayor Nutter’s ask for more education funding is the early rush for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Although the primary is in April 2014, many candidates like CONGRESSWOMAN ALLYSON SCHWARTZ, TREASURER ROB MCCORD, STATE SEN. MIKE STACK and KATIE MCGINTY have met with Nutter and reported he has indicated he needs to tread softly and protect his relationships with the Republicans. Therefore any endorsement for Governor from Mayor Nutter is way premature.

Now that the judicial elections are over, we can begin the process of figuring out which failed candidates will maneuver for appointments to judge. Two years ago, FRAN SHIELDS, RICHARD GORDON and KEN POWELL were able to benefit from a deal made by party CHAIRMAN BOB BRADY and others with Harrisburg Republicans to get short-term judicial appointments. So the question is, who will be the most-preferred candidates this time? The name SHARON LOSIER comes up repeatedly; however, she was not endorsed by the Bar Association. The last time, this prevented her from getting the appointment. But Losier is Democratic Ward Leader of the 61^st Ward, has been faithful to the party, and is an experienced and intelligent lawyer. It’s likely she will be going to the bench if there’s any way of making it happen.

The issue of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s approval once again is confounding. The Bar Association is a notoriously cliquey organization that prefers a special kind of judicial candidate, often liberal and often highbrow. That is no offense to candidates such as JIM CRUMLISH who received its highly prized endorsement. He has excellent legal credentials and should be endorsed by any organization. But for City Committee or Harrisburg insiders to worry about whether a judicial candidate has the endorsement of the Philadelphia Bar Association is silly. The best candidates should be chosen based on a variety of factors, not just one organization’s endorsement.

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