Nutter: No budget? Expect 3,000 job cuts

[larrymeyer]

But we can buy 500 Solar power trash cans or Lets help out Fat Eddie and the democrats and force this budget through scare tactics )


http://www.philly.com/philly/news/br..._job_cuts.html

Nutter: No budget? Expect 3,000 job cuts
By Marcia Gelbart

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Mayor Nutter this afternoon said the consequences of inaction in Harrisburg could be up to 3,000 job cuts in City Hall, the bulk of them layoffs. And the steps needed to take those actions could begin as soon as mid-August.

Speaking at an afternoon rally in the City Hall courtyard, the mayor spelled out what would happen if state lawmakers fail to pass legislation that would both increase the city sales tax from 7 percent to 8 percent, and trigger reforms of Philadelphia's pension system.

Among the possibilities:

*the elimination of 972 positions from the police department, which now has 6,600 officers;

*the loss of 200 jobs in the fire department, and the deactivation of six engine companies, three ladder companies and five medic units;

*the closure of two city health centers and the loss of 112 jobs; and

*a reduction in trash pickup from weekly to twice a month, and the loss of 350 positions.
(What happen to these savings ? http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-...ompactors.html (Philly rolls out solar-powered trash compactors))

In addition, at least five city agencies would be decimated, operating on a skeleton staff. They are: the City Planning Commission, the Commerce Department, the Recreation Department, the Free Library, and Fairmount Park.

All told, the city would need to make $700 million in cuts this year and in the following four years if the sales tax and pension legislation fails to win approval in Harrisburg.

During a 30-minute exhortation to a couple of hundred community organizers, social service services workers, city officials and employees and onlookers walking through the blazing hot courtyard, Nutter urged the General Assembly and Gov. Rendell to break their budget deadlock.

"We are hopeful for timely action but as much faith as we have, we cannot run a government on hope! We need money," the mayor said.
( from other tax payers in the State )

It is difficult to say how many of the 3,000 job cuts would result in layoffs. It depends on how many vacant positions currently exist, how many would result from normal attrition, and how many employees would be moved into other jobs if their positions are eliminated.

Right now, there are about 23,000 municipal workers.

"It's a terrible scenario, but it does not have to happen," Nutter said. "We're not asking for a handout. we're asking for a hand. . . Give us the tools we need to do what we have to do."
(sounds like a handout to me)

[Guns4Fun]

F Philthy and Nut sac - there, i said it.

[glockmaster]

Originally Posted by Guns4Fun

F Philthy and Nut sac - there, i said it.

thats freakin' hilarious!

[MikeinPhilly]

Just another scare tactic to get his tax raise approved instead of cutting a bloated city workforce. To many patronage jobs in every dept of the city.

[ehidle]

Wow, you mean this is what it takes to reduce the size of government?

Damn, I didn't know it was that easy...

[cgbudde]

Cut the jobs, stop services and then cut the mayors position, he's useless anyway.

Do these politicians really think they are going to scare me with threatening to cut police services. Who needs them, let the people control the criminals, we can do a better job.

[camper]

Why don't these cities/counties/states/gov EVER consider that cutting the 'free' crap they hand out to non-contributors is better than firing people who actually protect the people and are out there working?

We are a welfare nation when you'll fire police and cut back on fire departments rather then kick out the bums in public housing.

camper

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by camper

Why don't these cities/counties/states/gov EVER consider that cutting the 'free' crap they hand out to non-contributors is better than firing people who actually protect the people and are out there working?



camper

Hint:
It's the free crap that keeps getting them elected.

[mikey]

ONLY 3000?

It should be at least twice that number...

I am sick, as most people are, of supporting Philly's useless government positions. Most of the jobs lost, would have zero effect on anything, although the media would hype up everything and scare people into thinking they need these jobs.

And Philly isn't the only place that needs jobs cut...Allentown, Pittsburgh,Harrisburg,Bethlehem,Scranton,Easton,.. .

It is time to cut out the free handouts, too.

[JoeWilliams]

Those all sound like good things, to be honest.

And I've gotta ask, WTF are solar powered trash cans??