With the budget battle dragging on in Harrisburg, the Erie School District is prepared to operate without its normal state funding.

State lawmakers have still not agreed on a spending plan that was due June 30. That's already affecting some school districts in Pennsylvania.

But the Erie School District was anticipating a delay in the new state budget. That's according to the district's chief financial officer, who said even without a state budget, there's enough cash to cover the start of the school year.

Brian Cheese, the Erie School District CFO, said: "We're gonna have the schools open and the kids are gonna have all the regular programs they would normally have. It's business as usual for the district. We'll be able to cover any gaps in the short term."

Even if there's a historic d

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