Nov 19, 2008 9:30 pm US/Eastern
City Council Debates Nutter's Budget Cuts
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Mayor Michael Nutter.
CBS
The debate over Mayor Nutter's drastic budget cuts for Philadelphia has arrived in City Council.
For the first time in public Wednesday, City Council members had a chance to question Nutter administration officials on the budget cutbacks that will hit libraries, swimming pools and fire companies especially hard.
The mayor says the city must slash $1 billion out of its five year budget plan. Among the cuts he's pushing: 11 libraries, 68 swimming pools and 7 fire companies will close. No fire or police personnel will be laid off.
Several council members argued Wednesday they have not been provided enough information about why these specific cuts are being planned.
"The message seems to be that council doesn't need or deserve access to this data," said Councilman Bill Green (D, At-large). "We've essentially been issued a report with their conclusions, and I'd like to look at the data myself."
Wednesday's hearing was not supposed to be focused on the planned closure of the libraries, pools and fire companies. Those are areas where only Mayor Nutter has jurisdiction.
Instead, council was supposed to consider bills on two other elements of the Mayor's budget plan: increasing city fees and delaying scheduled city tax cuts, including cuts to Philadelphia's wage tax.
The Mayor has asked City Council to pass those bills before the end of the year.
But it might be the only chance for council to question the mayor's cutbacks.
"We have a goal of 50 percent reduction of drop out rate. You don't do that by cutting libraries," said Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (D, 4th District).
"The longer we wait, the longer we go without getting revenues, and the harder it is to fill our budget gap," said Philadelphia Finance Director Rob Dubow.
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