Phila. budget to boost funds for education, crime

Rendell's budget would increase the current police force budget by $18 million over 5 years. Stressing that he is "frustrated" about a lack of money to fund issues affecting Philadelphia, Mayor Ed Rendell submitted his 1998 budget and five-year financial plan to a packed session of city council yesterday. In Rendell's sixth budget address to City Council, he emphasized that Philadelphia is enjoying its fourth consecutive balanced budget. If Council approves the plan, the $2 billion budget for fiscal year 1998 will begin July 1. The 1998 fiscal budget -- a three-tiered proposal -- emphasizes safe and secure neighborhoods, reduction of the costs of living and doing business in Philadelphia and a commitment to education. Bringing down the cost of living is a part of the city's "historic" tax reduction program, a strategy that Rendell said has rewarded the city, and that characterizes this year's budget. "I think the real question for Penn is, is our university going to be located in a livable city where things are getting better," said University Budget Director Michael Masch, who was the city's budget director before coming to Penn last June. "The message from Rendell's budget is that in the area that the city government can control, things will get better. "What we need now is a state budget next month from Governor [Tom] Ridge that is as positive for the state including the city as this budget is for the city and for Penn," Masch added. During a speech yesterday, Rendell devoted nearly a third of his time to the need for quality public education in the city. "We have to provide our most valuable resource -- our young people -- with the education they will need to provide in a competitive workplace," he said. Pledging a commitment to the Philadelphia school district, Rendell criticized the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for failing to meet its "moral and constitutional responsibility" to fund the city's school district. He explained that for the past five years, the state has not provided adequate funds for the district, causing growing spending gaps between city and suburban school districts in the state. "Any additional financial assistance for the school district is a positive development," Masch said. "But it's not a substitute for an equitable statewide system for funding public education." To bring down the costs of living and working in Philadelphia, the proposed budget contains the next round of cuts in the city's wage tax and business privilege tax -- about $15 per taxpayer. "Unless we continue to bring down the costs of living and working in Philadelphia, all our other efforts will have been in vain," Rendell said. He added that he considers the tax reductions one of the "highest priorities" for the rest of his term as mayor -- which ends in 2000. The budget pledges a commitment to fighting crime and instilling a sense of security in Philadelphia residents. "The city will continue to do all it can not only to attack crime, but also to instill a feeling of safety in its residents," Rendell said yesterday. The budget proposes an additional $18 million in funding for the city's police force, with the Five-Year Plan committing $144 million. In addition, the city should receive approval for an additional 200 police officers during 1998, bringing the total from about 6,000 when Rendell first took office to roughly 6,900. "The mayor has promised and delivered on a police presence in West Philly," Masch said. "Under this budget it is far less likely that additional police will be assigned and then withdrawn." Funding for capital projects to improve the quality of life in the city forms the budget's third component. Calling state and national policies "cruel" and "ill-advised," Rendell decried reforms in state and federal welfare laws that he said could reduce social services benefits -- including food stamps, AFDC, and medical assistance -- by $2.3 billion. Rendell explained that his budget contains increases in funding to help "fill the void" created by state and federal welfare cuts. Money is allocated for police and fire departments, the Free Library, and recreation and health facilities. And improvements in street lighting -- an issue of concern to many students and residents in West Philadelphia -- receive $1 million, according to the budget. "There's a new vibrancy and spirit in the city," Rendell said. "For the first time in a decade, there is a feeling of real hope. "In the years ahead, we can? define what it means to be a great American city," he added.