Group Number 11
Moderators: Kayte Connelly, Brett Keyser and Brian Seymore
Total points: 59.5 toward goal of 100

Group Description:
The group of 18 appeared to be evenly split between male and female, with nearly half the group representing people of color. The overwhelming majority of the group appeared to be older than 40, with senior citizens comprising at least one third of the whole.

The work started off with a few minutes of individual contemplation of the list of options. There was an initial question about other possible revenue options that were not on the list. Several options were put forth by one individual and noted (but not voted on) as follows:

Assess New/Collect Existing User Fees for various services:

* For utilities cuts in the street.
* For picnics and other activities in Fairmount Park.
* Another participant suggested collection of late library fees.

Establish “sin” taxes.

Install more cameras to catch speeding drivers and red-light runners, thereby increasing revenue and safety.
As the work progressed, participants were respectful of one another, and discussion flowed civilly. Some voices were more frequently heard than others, but nearly all offered comments at some point, and everyone seemed actively engaged. One participant who had not spoken left about midway through the process, leaving us with 17. Another left just before the last vote was taken.

With some moments of disagreement and apparent frustration, the evening was marked overall by a general willingness to listen to one another and to press forward to accomplish the task at hand. No dissenting worksheets were filed.

Note about process: The group voted to put three budget items on the initial list of “Low Hanging Fruits.” One item (Vehicle Fleet) was placed in this category erroneously, having actually received a 72% vote in favor, so in this report it appears under “Shared Pain.” Another item discussed here (Parking) did not get 75% of the vote, but did attain just over 50% and so was listed under “Shared Pain.” After adding six to the “No Way No Hows,” we entered into discussion of “Shared Pain.” Most of the passing votes on the ensuing issues however, ended up passing by the 75% margin, so we listed them under “Low Hanging Fruits” during the forum. For clarity of process, in this report they will be listed under “Shared Pain” with the vote tallies listed to show the amount of support for each.

Low-Hanging Fruit
Total points: 6.5
#20. Eagles - 4 points

* There was some question about how long it would take to collect this money, and whether it could be realized for the 2010 budget.
* Unanimous.

#1a. Administrative - 2.5 points

o Modified 10% across all departments, instead of 20% cut.

o

Mayor’s Office - “Most expensive staff in history.”

o Question was raised about whether some of the cut positions would’ve become vacant by attrition or retirement. City rep. said yes, some of these are included in the number listed.

o

Argument made that cuts in Administration might adversely affect other offices.

o 15 votes, 83%.
No Ways, No Hows
Total points taken off the table: 90
#4. Fairmount Park - 2 points

* Originally brought up as a “Low Hanging Fruit,” with the notion of fountains put forward as unnecessary, an impassioned defense of the park ensued by one participant citing the park’s previous budget cuts of 75% in recent years. The item was tabled and brought up again as a “No Way. No How.”
* 14 votes, 78%.

#8. Human Services - 19 points

* Concern that cuts would affect child services.
* Unclear about how cuts would affect state matching funds.
* Unanimous.

#7. Housing - 7 points

* In this economy, people need help. No home = no education for kids.
* Unanimous.

#13. Public Health - 7 points

* Originally discussed under “Low Hanging Fruit,” a motion was made for health centers to charge co-pays, met with a chorus of “No.”
* Four voted in favor so it was tabled and resurrected as a “No Way, No How.”
* Determined that there was insufficient information to make cuts, with concern for who would actually be affected.
* One participant stated personal benefit from Public Health assistance.
* 14 votes, 78%.

#11. Police - 52 points

* “We need more police on the streets!”
* Personal testimony offered about successes of increased police presence in New York City in lowering crime.
* Seek out more efficiencies (6,500 police, only 3,000 on streets).
* Question about 500 on disability. “Seems high.”
* 13 votes (out of 17), 76%.

#6. Free Library - 3 points

* One participant cited 21% illiteracy in city, 50% of the population lack computers. “We NEED libraries.”
* While earlier proposed library closings by the city did not go through, libraries received 20% cut, reducing library staff.
* 15 votes (out of 17), 88%.

Shared Pain
Total points: 53
#16. Vehicle Fleet - 3 points

* There was concern that trash trucks or other essential services vehicles would be cut. The general feeling was that employees who didn’t need vehicles for the operation of their duties shouldn’t have cars.
* Perhaps cars could be shared among employees working together.
* Use public transportation, Philly Car Share.
* After clarification from our city budget office representative that the fleet total is 6,000 vehicles (4,500 non-sedan, 700 police vehicles, 800 non-police sedans), a motion was made to cut the vehicle fleet budget by 10%, reducing the number of vehicles by 400.
* 13 votes in favor, 72%.

#21. Parking - 2 points

* This was discussed under “Low Hanging Fruit” but did not achieve the two-thirds majority vote required to make that list; it did, however, receive a vote of more than 50% and was added to the “Shared Pain” list.
* Parking rates already too high.
* Concern voiced that increase might affect tourists, which was met with the comment, “Tourists don’t drive.”
* 11 votes in favor, 61%.

#5a. Fire - 10 points

* Look for inefficiencies.
* Fire houses are anchors in neighborhoods. Preventative measures have proactively reduced the number of fires through localized neighborhood education programs.
* Smaller city population, fewer buildings, fewer fires.
* “PUT OUT THE FIRES.”
* The number of life-threatening fires is down, but EMS runs are up. Re-educate the public to stop calling for emergencies when not actually an emergency.
* 14 votes (out of 17), 82%.

#17. Amusement - 4 points

* Motion was made to raise tax 2 percentage points to 7%.
* Very little discussion. Most in favor, not needing to be convinced. Vote passed with (14 out of 17), 82%.

#25. Wage/Resident, 1 point

* Motion made to raise taxes .1%. “We need the 12 points,” or we’re never going to fill the budget gap.
* Argument against: Taxes are killing the city and businesses. “It’s like the city is paying us to go elsewhere to work,” meaning fewer services that cost more.
* Counter: There was actually a wage tax reduction recently.
* “The key to the future is development, not pushing people out.”
* General observation offered: Many people don’t mind paying taxes to keep services.
* .1% tax increase received 8 votes, failing a majority.
* .01% tax passed with 12 votes (out of 17), 71%.

#26. Wage/Commuter - 1 point

* In consideration of the above tax on residents, the equivalent tax was voted through for commuters by 14 votes (out of 17), 82%.

#22b. Real Estate - 15 points

* Hasn’t been re-assessed equally. Valuation needs to be level.
* Question about relief for low-income homeowners addressed to city budget office representative: They could receive a tax rebate.
* Proposed 4 mill increase (which would have earned 20 points) with the stipulation that it only be passed if there would be tax relief for low income homeowners (5 points deducted to account for this).
* Unanimous.

#3. DROP Program - 4 points

* Program is supposed to SAVE money, not be revenue neutral.
* Dropping DROP would mean losing “archives of experience, skills, and knowledge.
* “Some have earned the right.”
* Some are abusing program.
* 15 votes (out of 17), 88%.

#15c. Streets - 13 points

* Reduce the budget and bring it back as economy improves.
* Potholes damage citizens’ vehicles.
* No “pay as you throw.” Concern about dumping. Clarification from city that alongside “pay as you throw” option there is a possibility being considered to charge a flat fee.
* Motion made to keep weekly recycling, and levy flat per household trash fee with water bill.
* 13 votes (out of 16), 81%.

Gut Wrenchers
Total points: 0
Because of time constraints, we did not exhaust all our options and did not reach the “Gut Wrenching” stage.
Big, Hairy, Ambitious Goals
We did not have time to consider any of these as a group.
Other
One item was tabled and returned to at the end and ultimately tabled again:
#12. Prisons

◦

Discussion of Prison cuts became heated at times, and no consensus was reached on how to suitably put the issue to a vote. Neither of the listed cut options was acceptable to most as written. Many were concerned about releasing prisoners and cutting job-training programs.

◦ Even with information supplied by our city representative regarding the number of nonviolent accused awaiting trial (approximately 1,000 out of 9,600), who were being held because they could not post low-level bail, the group could not be swayed by an argument proposing that some number of these could be released.

◦

Citizen argument in favor of release of nonviolent: Each costs $30,000/year.

◦ Opinion expressed against cuts that “there must be some correlation between public safety and inhumane treatment in prisons.”

◦

Three votes for 20% cut; five votes for 10% cut. Tabled.