This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
by Tom MacDonald for NewsWorks
Philadelphia’s lone Republican state representative, John Taylor, says it’s unlikely that Mayor Nutter will get either the new school funding or taxing authority he’s seeking from Harrisburg.
Nutter is backing the School District’s request for an additional $120 million in direct school funding from the state, and he wants legislation enabling the city to levy a $2-a-pack tax on cigarettes and raise the liquor-by-the-drink tax from 10 percent to 15 percent.
"It’s not something our caucus is not going to look forward to or the governor, to tax more," Taylor said in an interview. "I think we are going to figure out how to do it without that. I think it’s not going to be forthcoming from Harrisburg for enabling legislation for the liquor-by-the-drink tax or cigarette tax."
Taylor said it’s time for the school district to tighten its belt and live within its funding.