City commissioners are still wary about hiring a professional fundraiser to save Pembroke Pines’ charter schools.

Three months after city risk management director Daniel Rotstein and his consultant Paula Taylor pared down two candidates for the fundraising gig, some commissioners eager to finally hire one voiced concerns during a recent commission meeting.

The charter school system is failing because both the Florida Department of Education slashed funding last February by $600,000, and Broward County Schools reduced its per-student allocation by $1,052,000, said city controller Aner Gonzalez. Without that revenue, commissioners have speculated that the charters will bankrupt.

The professional fundraiser, or “development director” if hired, would drop by local businesses, family homes and organization and cull donations full-time.

Risks over losing money on the fundraiser’s salary and the bad economy stalled commissioners like Jack McCluskey from reaching a decision.

“This is a different beast than a nonprofit like Broward House,” said McCluskey. “This is a school. I’d rather use existing staff to fundraise that hiring a person for $75,000. We’re in a box here because we can’t make a commitment.”

Despite City Manager Charles Dodge’s warnings that hiring the fundraiser could translate to expensive start-up costs, Vice Mayor Angelo Castillo believes doing nothing spells danger for the charter system.

We can’t just rely on golf tournaments and game show fundraisers anymore,” said Castillo. “We need some quick cash so we don’t have to let go teacher’s associates. The time to hire was yesterday, and I’m a firm believer in trying. If you don’t take the risk, you can’t get the reward.”