Heard in the Hall

Nutter makes $20 million in cuts, urges Harrisburg to act quickly

Philadelphia City Hall and political coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer City Hall bureau.

8 comments

Nutter makes $20 million in cuts, urges Harrisburg to act quickly

POSTED: Monday, August 17, 2009, 4:36 PM

Patrick Kerkstra

The city will sharply cut back on its new 311 program, delay a police recruiting class and cut $1.5 million from politically sensitive low income housing fund, Mayor Nutter said today, as he announced yet another round of budget cuts, this one topping $20 million.

The mayor said the cuts were necessary due to the inaction of state lawmakers, who are considering legislation that would let the city increase its sales tax and reduce pension payments over the short term.

“There are real consequences to inaction. Every week that passes without Senate approval costs the city millions of dollars, forcing ever deeper cuts to services,” Nutter said in a statement.

Each month the that the city’s legislation fails to win approval costs Philadelphia about $10 million in lost sales tax income, Nutter said.

Although the House has passed the bill authorizing the sales tax hike and pension payment structuring, the Senate has just begun considering the legislation, and no vote is likely until Aug. 26 at the earliest, according to a timetable released last week by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Del.).

The cuts announced today were small compared to what will be neccessary if the Senate utterly rejects the city’s legislative requests. That scenario would force Philadelphia to adopt what Nutter has called a “doomsday” or “plan C” budget, which would include mass police and fire layoffs, as well as twice monthly garbage collection, Nutter has said.

But unlike the plan C budget — which is becoming a less and less likely possibility, as Senate leaders have indicated they will likely pass at least some version of the city’s request — the cuts Nutter announced today are real and lasting. Even if the Senate were to approve the city’s legislation immediately, the $20 million in cuts would have to be made.

The spending cuts include:

A sharp reduction in hours for the 311 call center. Beginning Aug. 29, the 24-hour service will be closed on Sundays, open only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. The move will save $230,000 a year.
More than 100 police cadets will not be hired this fall as scheduled, saving $3.2 million this fiscal year.
The city will cease purchasing any replacement vehicles — except for police cars — this fiscal year, saving $4.8 million.
$8 million in cuts through elimination of positions and reduced contracting in departments such as Finance, Commerce, Planning, Law, Streets and the Mayor’s Office.

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:49 PM, 08/17/2009

Whoever you are, cleanupphilly, I relish your comment. I to, applaud Pileggi.

— dolce

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:57 AM, 08/18/2009

Who are you people? Do you even live here? First, Pileggi doesn't live in Philadelphia and does not represent our interests. And he built his career by first introducing a bill in the House that limited the state's ability to interfere in city budgets. Fresh out of Chester, he actually remembered how hard it was to make cities work. Now, he's buidling a political career on a tired "no new taxes" approach. If were any kind of leader, he would have helped negotiate a budget over a month ago. The state is holding the city hostage. Pileggi is the one who has lost it in my book.

— boobookitty

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:49 AM, 08/18/2009

That's what happens when the City relies on the taxpayers not living in the city to pay it's bills. Pileggi should be representing his constituents. He didnt get a vote on the ridiculous spending and work rules Phialdelphia has. He doesnt get a piece of the corrupt pie to dole out to his freinds family and supporters.

— tr88