Presenter
Presented by Mr. Udin
Title
Resolution authorizing and directing the City Solicitor to investigate the possibility of initiating a lawsuit on behalf of the taxpayers of the City of Pittsburgh against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Commonwealth's failure to provide adequate funding for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
Body
Whereas, the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Article III, Section 14 states "The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth."; and
Whereas, while the amount of money allocated by the Commonwealth to the Pittsburgh Public Schools has increased, the percent of the Public School budget it funds has actually decreased; and,
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has burdened the Pittsburgh Board of Education with unfunded and underfunded mandates such as Basic Education ($25.1 Million), Special Education ($8.0 Million), Charter Schools ($4.8 Million), Non-public School Transportation ($3.5 Million), Nurses Services ($2.6 Million), Dental Services ($.2 Million) and School Controller ($.8 Million); and,
Whereas, the 18 school closings, $32 Million in tax increases (Real Estate Tax—13.9 mills, Earned Income Tax--.125%, Realty Transfer Tax--.25%), 160 staff reductions, and $870,000 of reduced secondary course offerings proposed by the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education would be a hardship for the residents, taxpayers, school employees and school children of the city of Pittsburgh; and,
Whereas, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has had budget surpluses over the past several years including an estimated $600 Million 2000 budget surplus;
Therefore, the Solicitor of the City of Pittsburgh is authorized and directed to investigate the possibility of initiating a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Commonwealth's failure to provide adequate funding for Pittsburg...
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