Political challenger Kyle Klaric of Hermitage this week blasted his opponent -- incumbent state Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District -- for voting to allow the Philadelphia School District to float a $300 million bond to pay off its debts and said Robbins has ignored local school districts' problems for years.

"While our local schools are trying to cope with state funding shortfalls and contemplating more property tax hikes, Sen. Robbins is busy in Harrisburg backing a $300 million bail-out bond for Philadelphia's schools," the Democrat Klaric said in a news release.

Klaric compared floating the bond to "throwing money down a rat hole" and said Philly schools have "no plan detailing how the money will be spent, how it will be paid back or how the district might become more accountable."

Klaric added: "Our local school directors must balance their budgets without the luxury of irresponsibly piling up massive deficits and floating bonds. They must make tough choices between raising taxes and cutting educational programs."

Klaric said Robbins and other Republicans in Harrisburg "are the ones who put our local school districts in such a dire financial state," and added that Robbins is "partially responsible for local property tax hikes because he stood by meekly while the state has continually shortchanged local school districts."

"The state's 50-percent funding obligation has dwindled to less than 35 percent," Klaric said.

Robbins rebuffed claims that he has turned a blind eye on local schools -- or any schools.

The Philly bond issue will help the school district pay off its debts, and the district has agreed to pay off the bond at a $25 million-a-year clip, Robbins said.

And, he said, legislation passed Wednesday would help all school districts by reducing the amount of money they are expected to pay into the state teachers retirement system.

Under the legislation, the county's 12 public school districts will pay $2.035 million less than they would have under a five-fold increase in the contribution rate that the Public School Employees Retirement System approved in December. As a result, school boards may not have to hike property taxes or cut programs as much as had been feared. The legislation also provides a two-tier cost-of-living increase for retired teachers and retired state employees.