For the first time in decades, the district's total revenues will decrease. Masch projected that the district's revenues will drop by 12 percent, or $377 million.
"We didn't have any good choices left," Masch told the SRC. "We only had bad choices."
Lori Shorr, Mayor Nutter's chief education officer, said she feared that the academic gains the district has made over the last eight years might be wiped away.
"Everything that we see here today is disturbing," Shorr said. "It's hard to imagine we're going to be continuing progress with these cuts."
Along with other big cities forced to lay off teachers and slash programs, Philadelphia, Shorr said, "will be paying for this for years."
Projections could change before the SRC adopts a final budget May 31, Masch said, depending on whether new funds become available or whether the situation worsens.
The current budget picture contains a number of assumptions, including the district's getting $75 million in givebacks from its unions and receiving $57 million worth of charter school funding relief from the state.
Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said in an interview that he would not renegotiate.
His members, he said, have already had a wage freeze and can give no more.
"I have been very clear with the district," Jordan said. "We are not reopening our contract."
The district has already begun conversations on new terms with some of its other unions, officials said. Legally, the SRC may impose terms on unions, though Masch said "the preference of the School District is to bargain with our collective-bargaining units."
