The Pennsylvania state budget was due in June. As of late October, the budget still has not been passed.<\/p>\n
In August, the Erie School District said that it would be financially okay for the first quarter of the fiscal year. Now that delays have lasted even longer, officials said the clock is ticking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a state budget is not passed by the end of this calendar year, then we are going to be forced to borrow money. We need to be providing these services for our kids, and so I cannot stress the importance on actually having a budget that is passed. 70% of our revenue comes from state subsidy,\u201d said Neil Brokman, Erie Schools assistant superintendent.<\/p>\n
Erie Community Foundation approves $2.7 million in grants for community projects <\/a><\/p>\n The Erie School District is currently operating on the remaining 30% of its funding that it receives through other revenues. Brokman said that percentage-wise, they are maxed out on their current school budgets.<\/p>\n Brokman said, \u201cThe only reason that we can sustain anything through the end of this calendar year is because we\u2019ve been conservatively, fiscally responsible over the last couple of years. And so we\u2019ve been able to actually have a healthy fund balance, but that\u2019s not the intent of a fund balance. It\u2019s not to use those funds because the state won\u2019t pass a budget.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s been more than 100 days past the due date for Pennsylvania\u2019s state budget, and going too long without a budget may mean that the school district will have to make difficult decisions.<\/p>\n