|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
|
State
Rep. Michael McGeehan |
|
McGeehan pries school money out of Parking Authority
HARRISBURG, Nov. 14 – Philadelphia schools would get a guaranteed $1.2 million a year from the city Parking Authority under an amendment successfully placed into a bill today by Rep. Mike McGeehan, D-Philadelphia. The House Appropriations Committee inserted the McGeehan amendment into a bill that would extend the Automated Red Light Enforcement System in Philadelphia to Dec. 31 of 2010. The legislation authorizes automated camera enforcement of red light violations at 10 intersections in the city and would add three more to the list.
Under the McGeehan amendment, the Parking Authority would be required to direct $200,000 in red light camera fine revenue to the school district’s Saturday Morning Alternative Reach and Teach, or SMART, Program to combat bullying and violence in city schools. An additional $1 million annually would go into the Advanced Academic Learning Program for gifted students.
McGeehan said directing the fine revenue to the two programs is intended to make public schools safer and more appealing to potential students and their parents.
McGeehan said his amendment would help the Parking Authority live up to the promise made six years ago when its control was shifted out of city hall with the promise it would generate $45 million for the city school district during that time. The authority thus far has only provided $4 million.
“The gap between the original promises and what has actually developed over the last six years will be narrowed by what we have worked out after extensive deliberation and discussion between all the involved parties,” said McGeehan. “Equally important, we have a funding source for two programs that we are told will significantly benefit many students in the Philadelphia public schools.
“We’re heading in the right direction.”
The legislation (H.B. 1690) reported out of the Appropriations Committee also would place more checks on the Parking Authority to increase its accountability to taxpayers. The credibility measures include an annual audit submitted in a report to the Legislature, requiring contracts for services to be awarded similar to the Commonwealth Procurement Code and allowing the state Auditor General to review the authority’s books.
McGeehan said the amended bill could come before the House for its first reading as early as next week.
###jp/2007/cz
L:\print\releases\redlightfines.173
|
CONTACT: Jay Purdy |