Nutter is still lobbying legislators to authorize critical elements of the $3.8 billion city budget, including a 1-cent sales-tax increase, a two-year delay of $230 million in pension contributions, and structural changes to the pension fund to reduce the city's annual contribution.
But yesterday Nutter said he could get everything he had asked from the legislature and still be dealt "a devastating blow" under the Republican Senate bill scenario making the rounds at the state Capitol.
"It's a little scary at the moment . . . Senate Bill 850 and what it would possibly do to the commonwealth and the city of Philadelphia," Nutter said in an interview yesterday with the Inquirer editorial board. "This is a weird version of someone who gives you $25, then takes $35 out of the other pocket."
Neither state Democrats nor Republicans could detail the impact of the proposed pared-down budget on individual counties, and Nutter said he was still trying to nail down numbers. But with potential cuts to education and social services, he estimated the city could end up "somewhere between Plan B and Plan C."
Philadelphians do not want to hear those words.
"Plan B" was Nutter's contingency budget should he fail to get the sales-tax increase and pension adjustments. It included $81 million in annual service cuts. The plan called for eliminating 480 police officer positions; eliminating three medic units and five fire companies; limiting garbage pickup to three times a month; closing a health center; reducing recreation centers to four hours a day; and reducing 1,000 traffic signals to flashing only.
"Plan C" is worse, envisioning a scenario under which the city gets no help at all from Harrisburg.
The city has not released details of that plan. Nutter said it involves between 600 and 800 fewer police officers as well as 200 fewer firefighter positions. Nutter said he might have to close whole city departments.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware), said, "We certainly haven't been asked for or provided to the mayor or city officials details about Senate Bill 850."
Pileggi said the Republican plan represented just a 2 percent reduction from last year.
"Why the mayor thinks that would have disastrous effects on the city of Philadelphia puzzles me," Pileggi said.
I just don't understand why Nutter, Council, and the newspapers are in denial about this. There's no chance the state income tax increase will pass. If the papers would cover this issue from both sides, they'd be able to see that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cyZNNFZQRs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2F1.open.gmodules.com%2Fgadgets%2Fifr%3Fcontainer%3Dopen%26mid%3D1%26v%3D1d667595b6f563bb6e77ac593b4a245%26lang%3Dall%26country%3DALL%26view%3Dhome%26up_&feature=player_embedded— CleanupPhilly- When is the paper going to call Nutter and Council on the fact that people are not going to pay more in taxes until the city addresses the revenue owed it? There is $522 million in overdue property taxes owed the city, and this is hard cash the city can collect now at sheriff sale. There are two properties in my neighborhood that owe $17,000.00 EACH! These are both empty houses one with commercial potential, that have been nuisance properties that cost the city and police since I've lived here for a decade. Enough. Sheriff sale these properties: 2320 Fitzwater St., and 2149 Catharine St. Why do I have to beg Anna Verna's office to call the Law Dept., the Dept. of Revenue, and the Sheriff to get these offices to function like normal offices that know what their job is? This is the issue that will get us good schools and a balanced budget, and the papers won't look at it, which is plainly biased. Why? These owners are not "disadvantaged," they're just deadbeats. Your assumptions limit your ability to find solutions.— CleanupPhilly
- What do I have to do to get the paper to see how much money is owed the city by property owners who own a valuable asset, but who are allowed by the city to not pay? This is where the money is going to come from. Here's the proof: http://ework.phila.gov/revapp/delinqtax/returnprop2.asp?txtBRTNo=302055900 for the property at 2120 Fitzwater St. in tony 19146.— CleanupPhilly
- Here's the proof that 2149 Catharine owes $17,000.00 for years: http://ework.phila.gov/revapp/delinqtax/returnprop2.asp?txtBRTNo=302081500 and you guys need to cover this issue. How can any city ever have let this happen? It's completely unsustainable at any time, and especially now. It's criminally negligent for you to not cover this issue, and yet to call for tax hikes on those who do pay.— CleanupPhilly
- It is absolute BS that you have NO business reporting as fact that we have to cut police and fire, because the money for this is right here, in the 130,000 properties that owe property taxes of half a billion, $522 million, at last count. If you can cover a man getting gored by a bull, you can cover the PA taxpayer getting gored by politicians who have not done the hard work of fixing Philly first before raising taxes.— CleanupPhilly
- The PIT is dead. I appreciate you calling the mayor out on is "we must now kill all the puppies" reaction to what everyone said would happen. But when are you going to confront Nutter with what Plan C really must mean? Here's the news release on the now dead PIT from Evans: http://wbx.me/l/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpahousegop.com%2F%2F%3Fsectionid%3D201%26itemid%3D8436— CleanupPhilly
- Can someone explain this part? "...and reducing 1,000 traffic signals to flashing only." What the heck does this do to save money for the City?— KG071
Comment removed.- There were press releases on Thursday from Harrisburg, and not one was covered in today's paper. One said, "State Budget Process Gains Positive Momentum, Baker Says, Thursday July 09, 2009, Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford) announced today that House Republicans will unveil their amendment to Senate Bill 850, the general appropriations bill for Pennsylvania, at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 10, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg. It is expected that the amendment will enhance the current legislation and will not call for an increase in the state’s Personal Income Tax (PIT). “Pennsylvanians work very hard for their paychecks,” Baker said. “They count on every dime to pay their bills, feed their families, and put a roof over their heads. The last thing that they need is a tax increase of any amount. “House Democrats had hoped that their budget legislation, which included an increase in the PIT to balance the budget, would gain support among House members; however, that proved to be too daunting a task,” Baker added. “Their simply was little-to-no support for any kind of tax increase on Pennsylvania families. House Republicans stood strong in saying that a tax increase was not needed to pass a balanced budget.” House Republicans are hopeful that House Democrats, who control the voting schedule, will bring budget legislation to the floor as soon as Monday." This is pretty big news. But Philly.com is headlining all non-Philly non-PA news right now. What gives?— CleanupPhilly
Yeah great idea raise taxes , just dont collect them , brilliant idea mayor just brilliant— PAEnglish- Well let's see. Philly.com is headlining news about Michael Jackson, Britney Spears in Sweden, one of the Arquettes living in a box, hurray for them, and other complete nonsense. Do they also just plug their ears and go "nahnahnah" when news happens that they don't agree with? It's Plan C time.— CleanupPhilly
- Hello right-sizing city government at long last. Why not press Nutter on which city departments have to be closed?— CleanupPhilly
- Fluffer Nutter is spinning his wheels in trying to turn this into a blame game with scare tactics. It's the usual democrat game plan when things don't go their way. Liberal zombie voters of Philly take note— camtheman
- Yes, and the Republicans put up a balanced budget, but since Fatboy Eddie and his Dem cronies didn't win they closed up shop last night and went on extended weekend while the Republicans asked to work through the weekend to craft a budget and get it passed so state employees will be paid, but his "Fatness" and his cronies decided to take the ball and go home since they didn't get their way of taxing hard-working families to give to the parasites of society!!! Can't wait till Rendell the waste of air is finally gone!!!— Mike S.
- Plan "C" is exactly what's needed no matter what. Only when the government beast is starved will we begin to see the light at the end of the fiscal abyss. Government is doing way too many things that it shouldn't be doing, and every department, police and fire included, could stand to be cut by at least 10%. Only be keeping government limited to providing bare-bones services, and having drastic pension reform will things eventually get better.— erformc1
MONEY AND JUSTICE DON'T MIX
WILL THE NEW COUNCIL GIVE YOU A SAY?
Tips? Comments? Questions?
Contact:
Doron Taussig:
215-854-5307
doron.taussig@gmail.com
@dorontaussig
Holly Otterbein:
215-854-5809
hm.otterbein@gmail.com
@hollyotterbein
Juliana Reyes:
215-854-5855
juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com
@juliana_f_reyes
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