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$27.5 million in city projects still unspent

Finance Director Rob Dubow this morning acknowledged that the cash-strapped city had not yet spent $27.5 million it was allocated in July by by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation authority for "critical" improvements to fire and police facilities and the central branch of the Free Library.

"That's something we really need to get on, and we will," Dubow testified in a City Council budget hearing this morning.

Councilman Bill Green chastised the administration for failing to begin the projects. "The scary thing is, we're going to get hudnreds of millions of dollars [in stimulus money] from the federal government with a time-frame to spend it on," Green said. "And they can't do that."

The projects include $5 million worth of fire alarms for 16 fire stations that don't have them plus electrical and roof repairs. Another $5 million is reserved for upgrading mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in six police buildings -- some of the needs categorized as "potential life safety concerns" like property electrical grounding and ventilation. The Police Department is also in-line for a $5 million SWAT/Bomb squad facility, $3.5 million to renovate the evidence warehouse and SWAT operations facility at 660 E. Erie Ave.

The Free Library is due $9 million for a new roof, work on the elevators, electrical generator, heating and ventilation an exterior work.

Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety, said the reason the money has not been used is because there's been little time to focus on it.

As to the PICA-funded projects, he said, "We'll get it done, we'll get there."

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