Velma Lewis led a crew of Lift Every Voice Philly parents to call for increased focus on students’ emotional needs. (Photo by Tony West)

Schooling was the top issue on the minds of community members at Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s presentation of the proposed 2024-25 City budget at West Philadelphia High School on Apr. 29.

About 125 people turned out for this novel effort to bring City Council budget debates to the attention of neighborhoods. Gauthier hosted as councilmember for the 3rd District, which takes in much of West Philly. But she was joined by Council President Kenyatta Johnson of the adjoining 2nd District as well as at-large members Nina Ahmad, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Jim Harrity, Rue Landau and Nicholas O’Rourke. Such public outreach over the budget by the Council is without precedent.

Mayor Cherelle Parker delivered her proposed budget to Council on March 14. Council must now spend the spring debating whether to approve or amend each line of it. The result must be passed and signed by the mayor by June 30. Parker is calling for a $6.3 billion budget. It vows to hold taxes flat while boosting spending, especially on clean & green programs along with public safety. It promises $2 billion in new capital and operating investments over the next five years.

After laying out this groundwork, councilmembers invited the audience to speak and ask for action on any matter. Fifteen people took the mic over the remainder of the 1.5-hour meeting. Concerns ranged from local – a dilapidated building here, a needed stoplight there – to ways to grapple with public safety and health care.

But half the questioners focused on complaints about school conditions and programing. Notable among was a team from Lift Every Voice Philly, a parent organization with numerous West Philly members. They pressed for a “joy-based” education with closer attention to students’ feelings and a curriculum that includes arts and music for all. Councilmembers responded with vigor and vouched support for everyone’s causes. Left unspoken, though, was that the City budget Council is working on has little input into the School District’s $4.5 billion budget which is approved by the School Board, a separate body. Voters can propose any educational measure to Council, but Council can dispose only a small fraction of that money and cannot order the School District to do anything. And whatever City programs they do support they must fund out of the total pool of revenue that is on hand in this and coming years.

– Tony West