Philadelphia could lose 200 firefighters by October 1. Mayor announces “Plan C” budget that will bring worst service cuts in more than 50-years.
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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter sent a message to Harrisburg today. In a morning press conference he laid out his doomsday or “Plan C” budget that he says will be implemented unless state lawmakers let the city have a temporary sales tax increase and change the way it makes pension payments.
The budget would eliminate six fire companies and the jobs of 200 firefighters with layoff notices going out in a month.
Mayor Michael Nutter said the clock is counting down to the implementation of a devastating ‘doomsday budget’ in Philadelphia.
During a morning press conference Thursday, Mayor Nutter said he has submitted a revised five-year plan for the city that would lead to the largest number of layoffs in the city’s history.
“Other than the five days in which we have lost brave police officers in the line of duty, this is clearly the worst day of my tenure and service to you as mayor of this great city,” Mayor Nutter said.
Under the “Plan C” budget, nearly 3,000 city workers will lose their jobs, including 1,000 police officers and 200 firefighters.
On Wednesday, Mayor Nutter said Philadelphia’s court system will face a “virtual shutdown” if the cash-strapped city does not get state approval for a sales tax increase and changes to how it makes its pension payments.
Philadelphia is facing a $1.4 billion five-year budget deficit. The city has asked the state to approve a temporary sales tax increase in Philadelphia and allow changes to how the city makes its pension payments.
Officials in every city department have been asked to produce a list of layoff candidates by Friday. Those affected employees will be notified no later than September 18 with layoffs planned for October 2.
Residents will also be directly affected by cuts as city trash pickups will shift to an every other week schedule. Street lighting will also be reduced and 1,000 traffic lights will be switched to red flashers.
In Harrisburg, a state legislative leader says he hopes to have a bill ready for a vote next week. But Mayor Nutter warns the bill will need to pass without any amendments and get on the Governor’s desk as soon as possible.
Mayor Michael Nutter detailed on Thursday what he said will be the deepest cuts in public services for more than half a century, needed to balance the fiscal 2010 budget and the city’s financial plan for the next five years.
The cuts, previously announced in outline but now described in more detail, include the elimination of positions for 929 police officers, 120 firefighters, 520 recreation department jobs, 490 library staff members, and 112 health workers. The actual number of layoffs won’t be known until the city evaluates which of its approximately 23,000 positions are filled.
Six fire-engine companies would be deactivated, residential trash collection reduced to bi-weekly from the current weekly service, and bulbs will be removed from 4,000 street lights as the city eliminates some maintenance contracts.
