The news is grim:

In the state budget agreement announced last week, basic education funding, the biggest chunk of money for schools, received a $300 million bump statewide over last year's spending plan. But that's still under what Gov. Rendell proposed earlier this year - and what Philadelphia staked its $3.2 billion budget on.

What is certain is that as a result of revised basic education and state fiscal stabilization grant line items, Philadelphia is down by about $160 million. As lawmakers hammer out the fine print, that could grow by "$10, $20, $30 million more," Michael Masch, chief business officer, said Monday.

And the news is grim not only because of the actual shortfall but because the District feels like it can lone ranger $160-200 million in cuts without hearing from parents and the public about how those cuts ought to be made.

Masch said that he is "not anticipating that there would be public hearings" on the cuts. The School Reform Commission's approval of the budget is a ceiling for spending, he said, and spending under that figure is allowed.

But, Masch said, "we expect to be fully accountable, first to the School Reform Commission, then to the public, so they understand exactly how we will revise the budget."

Anyone else concerned about leaving decisions in the hands of an administration that couldn't cost out its own plan, spent money like mad last spring and through the summer, and is sending signals it's willing to float the BRT despite this shortfall? Anyone?