Pa. Auditor General To Determine Cost Of Budget Battle On Schools
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's auditor general says the state's budget impasse, now entering its third month, is costing state school districts money and he will attempt to put a price tag on how much.
In the absence of state funding, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says many school districts already have borrowed money or may need to. He says the current method of driving out state funds means the impact of the budget stalemate is uneven.
"It's all over the map. There are some school districts [that] only get 10 percent of their money from the state. While there's some that are in the 70s and 80s."
DePasquale says in most cases, schools districts in urban areas that get a higher percentage of state dollars will be hit hardest first.
As he audits school districts in the coming months, DiPasquale says he will work to determine the cost of the budget battle to schools.
"With some of the districts now being considered by Moody's close to junk bond status, it's going to be more expensive for them to borrow that money."
DePasquale vows to continue to "hammer" the waste of money associated with the lack of a state budget.