South Philly Review

Before Mayor Michael Nutter took the stage, the few hundred who gathered at City Hall's courtyard last week chanted "No budget cuts."

"I agree with you," he shouted back.

Nutter called the rally July 30 to urge state legislators to pass Pennsylvania's budget and additional legislation before it resulted in dire cuts for the city, including the loss of 3,000 workers and the closure of various departments, if the budget does not pass by next week. The Recreation Department, Free Library system, Fairmount Park Commission, Commerce Department and Planning Commission would cease operations, laying off nearly all of its employees in what Nutter has called Plan C.

Other reductions would mean weekly trash collections move to twice a month and the closure of two yet-to-be-determined city health centers. Police would lose 972 positions, including 739 officers, while the Fire Department would close six engine houses, three companies and five advanced life support units for a cut of 196 positions -- all still undetermined in terms of where -- if the state does not come to a consensus and allow the City to raise its sales tax 1 percent to 8 percent and amend its municipal pension plan allowing for the deferment of some payments and changes to the repayment period.

"It's not a scenario that any of us want to be anywhere near, but the reality of the uncertainty puts us in the situation," Nutter said last week. "Not just for PICA purposes, but for general operations, we cannot continue to support the government at the size it is today without those two significant items getting passed in Harrisburg. It's just not possible."

The mayor has continued to make the city's case in Harrisburg, including visits to the capitol every day this week up until press time, adding the budget "is taking up about three-and-a-half lanes of a four-lane highway." Its passage will allow city agencies to receive payments once more; since July 17, the City has delayed compensation to all of its vendors.

The city's budget, along with the state-approved mandates, was approved by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which has certain city financial and oversight functions, two weeks ago with a condition: If the state budget and the two items that will generate about $700 million for the City do not pass by Aug. 15, the City must get Plan C approved by Council by Aug. 30. With the state budget more than a month late in its passage, Philadelphia's needs add an extra roadblock, Nutter said.

The mayor has been actively speaking on behalf of the City in visits to Harrisburg July 27 and 29, as well this week.

"As much faith, as much hope as we have, we cannot not run a government solely on hope," Nutter said. "We need money."

Until both proposals are approved by the state, the City can only spend on its employees, debts and emergencies.

How the cuts will breakdown throughout the region has not been determined nor how the Splash Fund, which was the result of donations to keep the city's public pools open, will be effected by the closing of rec centers. One thing is certain, mayoral spokeswoman Maura Kennedy said, the budget impasse upstate will affect all parts of the city.

"We'll start this process Aug. 15 if we aren't successful in Harrisburg," she said, adding the 3,000 workers could be out of a job by Sept. 30.

Libraries will remain open in some capacity, Free Library of Philadelphia spokeswoman Sandy Horrocks said. With 490 planned layoffs, about 130 jobs would remain, but she was unsure who would be left standing.

"We don't know yet," Horrocks said, adding concerns are mounting about unattended buildings. "Everyone's great hope is the budget will get resolved and passed."

"We need our state legislators' continued support to avoid not only the potential loss of jobs, but a serious impact on public safety," Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby said in a press release Monday.

Resident Loretta Deshazer sees bad things on the horizon.

"It's sad. It's very said," the resident of 25th Street and Snyder Avenue said. "It's going to be hard. If a fire breaks out, what is going to happen?"