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Behind closed doors, Nutter talks budget cuts

Mayor Nutter today was to announce a severe budget-cutting plan, which includes a freeze on planned tax cuts until 2015, according to sources familiar with the plan.

Mayor Nutter today was to announce a severe budget-cutting plan, which includes a freeze on planned tax cuts until 2015, according to sources familiar with the plan.

Nutter said yesterday that the shortfall in the city's budget will grow larger than the last estimate of $841 million over five years. The funding gap is largely due to lower-than-expected tax revenues and poor performance by the city's pension-fund investments.

At noon, Nutter will deliver a live televised address on Channel 6 to talk about the budget plan. It his first such speech.

"I think the seriousness of what we're doing requires that level of public presentation," Nutter said.

Nutter has not spoken publicly about the plan, but sources said it includes a freeze on proposed cuts to the city wage and business taxes. Sources also said funding for the parks will be reduced, and a number of libraries and swimming pools will be closed.

Nutter yesterday briefed City Council members during a four-hour budget meeting behind closed doors at the Municipal Services Building. The city denied reporters access to the meeting, posting an armed security guard outside the door.

Attorneys for the Daily News and Inquirer have asked a judge to intervene in Nutter's practice of holding private budget briefings when a quorum of Council is present. Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Di Vito was scheduled to hold a hearing this morning on the request.

Chris Casey, an attorney for the newspapers, is asking Di Vito to issue an order preventing the Nutter administration and Council from holding any more meetings that violate the state's open meetings law.

Two attorneys from the city Law Department met in court with Casey and the judge yesterday afternoon, but a hearing was not held because a court stenographer was not available.

City Solicitor Shelley Smith has issued a legal opinion for Nutter claiming that the practice does not violate the state's open- meetings law.

Nutter insisted that he has the right to brief Council in private.

"There will be no decisions made," he said of yesterday's meeting. "We have to update the Council on financial matters." *