"I'm not even supposed to BE HERE today!"
Nutter Holds Rally to Pressure Pa. Legislature on Budget
From http://www.kyw1060.com/Nutter-Holds---Doomsday---Budget-Rally/4902236
Nutter Holds Rally to Pressure Pa. Legislature on Budget
by KYW’s Tony Romeo and Mike Dunn A Thursday afternoon rally at City Hall was Mayor Nutter’s latest attempt to warn of drastic cuts in city services if Harrisburg does not approve key measures he needs to keep his government afloat.
The mayor organized the rally at City Hall to sound another warning cry about the need for Harrisburg’s help in avoiding a catastrophic cash shortfall. Nutter needs state approval for changes in the city workers' pension plan, and permission to raise the city sales tax a penny on the dollar (see budget related stories).
In the courtyard of City Hall, Nutter urged supporters to politely pressure Harrisburg to allow him to raise the city sales tax and restructure the pension fund:
"As much faith, as much hope as we have, we cannot run a government solely on hope. We need money!"
And then Nutter spelled out the cuts he'd make without those approvals. They include the outright closure of the library system, all recreation centers, and the entire park system. Trash pick up would go to twice a month, and he'd lay off more than 900 police and firefighters (expanded list below).
The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee approved the sales tax and pension restructuring plans on Wednesday. Committee chairman Dwight Evans (D-Phila.) says a vote on the floor of the Democratic-controlled House could come as soon as next week.
But in what may be a sign of difficulty ahead, all of the GOP committee members voted 'no.'
Rep. Mario Civera (Delaware County), the ranking Republican on the committee, said his side is under the impression that some House Democrats aren’t on board:
“And so why should we put up any kind of a significant indication that we would vote to increase any type of a tax at this moment?”
Evans denies a break in the Democratic ranks.
At the rally, Nutter will provide details of what cuts he would be forced to make if he does not get approvals in both the state House and Senate.
An administration source says that a doomsday budget could involve the layoffs of 600 to 800 police officers, 200 firefighters, hundreds of other city workers, and the closures of dozens of recreation centers and libraries.
Following the rally, the mayor's press office issued the following list of operational changes they say would be required in the city if the state legislature failed to approve the sales tax increase and pension plan changes:
Police
Eliminate 972 positions including 739 sworn officers, 43 civilians, and 190 by attrition.
Fire
Deactivate 6 engine companies, 3 ladder companies, and 5 ALS medic units.
As a result eliminate 36 officer positions, 120 firefighter positions, and 40 paramedics positions.
Engine and ladder deactivations will likely result in the complete closure of fire houses.
Health
Close 2 City Health Centers resulting in a significant negative impact on Philadelphia’s uninsured population.
Eliminate Medical Evaluation Unit.
Eliminate 112 positions.
Streets
Reduce trash pick up to twice a month, eliminating 350 positions.
Reduce citywide cleaning and eliminate all citywide support staff, an additional 50 positions.
Recreation
Close all Recreation Centers and cease all programming.
Eliminating 450 positions.
Free Library
Cease operations at all branch and regional libraries.
Eliminating 490 positions.
Fairmount Park
Cease all operations, eliminating 142 positions.
Commerce Department and Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Cease all operations, eliminating 59 positions in total.
Further eliminated positions
Mayor’s Office - 18 positions
Managing Director’s Office - 21 positions
L&I - 6 positions
Finance Department - 23 positions
Division of Technology - 79 positions
Human Resources - 8 positions
Records - 12 positions
Revenue - 2 positions
APPROXIMATELY 3,000 POSITIONS ELIMINATED
From http://www.kyw1060.com/Nutter-Holds---Doomsday---Budget-Rally/4902236
Nutter Holds Rally to Pressure Pa. Legislature on Budget
by KYW’s Tony Romeo and Mike Dunn A Thursday afternoon rally at City Hall was Mayor Nutter’s latest attempt to warn of drastic cuts in city services if Harrisburg does not approve key measures he needs to keep his government afloat.
The mayor organized the rally at City Hall to sound another warning cry about the need for Harrisburg’s help in avoiding a catastrophic cash shortfall. Nutter needs state approval for changes in the city workers' pension plan, and permission to raise the city sales tax a penny on the dollar (see budget related stories).
In the courtyard of City Hall, Nutter urged supporters to politely pressure Harrisburg to allow him to raise the city sales tax and restructure the pension fund:
"As much faith, as much hope as we have, we cannot run a government solely on hope. We need money!"
And then Nutter spelled out the cuts he'd make without those approvals. They include the outright closure of the library system, all recreation centers, and the entire park system. Trash pick up would go to twice a month, and he'd lay off more than 900 police and firefighters (expanded list below).
The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee approved the sales tax and pension restructuring plans on Wednesday. Committee chairman Dwight Evans (D-Phila.) says a vote on the floor of the Democratic-controlled House could come as soon as next week.
But in what may be a sign of difficulty ahead, all of the GOP committee members voted 'no.'
Rep. Mario Civera (Delaware County), the ranking Republican on the committee, said his side is under the impression that some House Democrats aren’t on board:
“And so why should we put up any kind of a significant indication that we would vote to increase any type of a tax at this moment?”
Evans denies a break in the Democratic ranks.
At the rally, Nutter will provide details of what cuts he would be forced to make if he does not get approvals in both the state House and Senate.
An administration source says that a doomsday budget could involve the layoffs of 600 to 800 police officers, 200 firefighters, hundreds of other city workers, and the closures of dozens of recreation centers and libraries.
Following the rally, the mayor's press office issued the following list of operational changes they say would be required in the city if the state legislature failed to approve the sales tax increase and pension plan changes:
Police
Eliminate 972 positions including 739 sworn officers, 43 civilians, and 190 by attrition.
Fire
Deactivate 6 engine companies, 3 ladder companies, and 5 ALS medic units.
As a result eliminate 36 officer positions, 120 firefighter positions, and 40 paramedics positions.
Engine and ladder deactivations will likely result in the complete closure of fire houses.
Health
Close 2 City Health Centers resulting in a significant negative impact on Philadelphia’s uninsured population.
Eliminate Medical Evaluation Unit.
Eliminate 112 positions.
Streets
Reduce trash pick up to twice a month, eliminating 350 positions.
Reduce citywide cleaning and eliminate all citywide support staff, an additional 50 positions.
Recreation
Close all Recreation Centers and cease all programming.
Eliminating 450 positions.
Free Library
Cease operations at all branch and regional libraries.
Eliminating 490 positions.
Fairmount Park
Cease all operations, eliminating 142 positions.
Commerce Department and Philadelphia City Planning Commission
Cease all operations, eliminating 59 positions in total.
Further eliminated positions
Mayor’s Office - 18 positions
Managing Director’s Office - 21 positions
L&I - 6 positions
Finance Department - 23 positions
Division of Technology - 79 positions
Human Resources - 8 positions
Records - 12 positions
Revenue - 2 positions
APPROXIMATELY 3,000 POSITIONS ELIMINATED