PHILADELPHIA (March 5, 2015) – Public Citizens for Children and Youth released the following statement on Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed FY 2016 budget:

Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed budget is a cause for celebration for Philadelphia’s children, their parents and civic leaders who share a vision for a vibrant city supported by a world class public school system.  The Mayor’s proposal to pump $105 million in new, recurring funding meets the school district’s funding request and we urge Council to concur to put these desperately needed resources in our classrooms.  We thank City Council for time and time again stepping to the plate to fund the schools and look forward to working with them to ensure that the final budget makes these investments.

The Mayor’s proposal to put $1 million on the table to support the “Read! By 4th Campaign” is inspiring.  Public Citizens for Children and Youth led the formation of this Campaign because the evidence is clear that students who enter fourth grade with strong reading skills are significantly more likely to succeed.  These funds will go a long way to making this ambitious and essential Campaign achieve its goal of every child reading well by 4th grade by 2020.

Not only does this budget improve the schools our children attend, it makes essential and substantial investments in our Recreation Department.  Because Council works in partnership with the Department in improving recreation centers, we are hopeful it will, at a minimum, meet the Mayor’s proposed increase in capital improvements for recreation.  The Mayor also clearly recognizes that more children need summer jobs and attend summer camps.  This budget proposal offers a real expansion in these programs and that’s great news for kids.

Any budget proposal that requires new revenues is a tough sell.  We see the investments in children proposed by this budget as part and parcel of the budget package, not items that are at risk unless new revenues are found.

Today’s budget proposal, coupled with the Governor’s proposed budget earlier this week makes it clear that elected leaders are increasingly seeing the benefit of making investments in the next generation a top priority.