Philly school officials make their money pitch to City Council this week

The School District of Philadelphia will make its case for additional revenue before City Council Tuesday morning.

School district officials will urge council to agree to Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed 9.4 percent property tax hike.

Council has thus far given Nutter’s plan a chilly reception, but members have yet to put forward plans to deliver any portion of the $105 million in new funding sought by the district. Council’s hearings on the school budget were delayed until after last week’s city primaries.

District officials will make the pitch that an additional investment from the city, in concert with Gov. Wolf’s education-friendly budget proposal, will greatly improve academic performance and school culture.

Superintendent William Hite says that lagging state aid and growing fixed costs, have forced the district to trim all but the bare essentials.

Council members have been reluctant to raise property taxes on the heels of Philly’s recent tax assessment overhaul, which drastically boosted bills for some in the city.