Group Number 4
Moderators: Cassandra Georges, Jean DiSabatino, Fatima Hafiz
Total points: 78.5

Group Description:
There were 17 participants. There were 12 women, 4 African American, 8 Caucasian. There were 5 men, 1 African American, 3 Caucasian, and 1 Latino. Participants were over 21 years of age, with a couple reaching into their 70’s and 80’s.

There were two people who never spoke. Participants’ energy level increased over time, although they started fairly engaged. People began talking to one another instead of directly to you. There were animated but not heated conversations. We did not make it through each of the buckets. There was a guy at the beginning who tried to make an activist speech about the process being flawed. We responded to him very quickly. After giving him a moment to finish his thought, we invited him to leave video testimony. He left. We never officially discussed gut busters.

There were no dissenting worksheets filed.

Low-Hanging Fruit
Total points: 15
• #20 Make Eagles pay - for 4 points, gaining 4 points
• #16 Vehicle Fleet for 6 points, gaining 6 points
o Questions about whether this included police cars
• # 3 Drop program for 4 points, gaining 4 points
o Worry about abuse of system.
o However, not everyone abuses. It’s not just used by council members. It has been used by long time employees.
o Designed to bridge the gap between retiring employees and their subsequent vacancies.
o Will it actually save money?
• #1b Administrative for 1 point , gaining 1 point

No Ways, No Hows
Total points:
• #13a Public Health for 5 points, gaining 0 points with unanimous vote
o There is fear of increased homelessness, domestic violence, etc.
o Even if we cut here, will have to pay for it elsewhere.
o Started at 20% and received unanimous so no need to go to 30%
o #13b Public Health for 7 points
• #7 Housing for 7 points, gaining 0 points
o There are too many people losing jobs/ losing homes.
o Cutting costs means we also lose the corresponding federal dollars.
o It was already cut in last budget.
o Vacant lots are connected to crime
o Greening is valuable
• #11a Police for 26 points, gaining 6.5 points at 2.5%
o Emphasized importance of having police protection. Police officer, no matter their daily duties, is still an officer. One less makes us more vulnerable
o How many people are being laid off instead of leaving vacancy unfilled
o Were unwilling to make substantial cuts, not even 5%, rejected with unanimous vote
o Concerned over too many cuts. Are cuts going to result in greater efficiency or just a cut in service?
o Police should cut back on giving out tickets on the highway, and instead focus on street patrols
o Increase fees for parking tickets
o Tie police budget to performance standards. Create incentives for training and stop police misconduct.
• #14c Recreation for 5 points, gaining 0 points
o Were unwilling to make any cuts, not even 5%, rejected with unanimous vote

Shared Pain
Total points: 57
• #17 Amusement tax for 2 points, gaining 2 points with simple majority
o Is it across the board? Should be applied equally to all types of tickets.
o In light of economic downturn, this is our substitute for expensive vacations. We can’t afford to travel, so this needs to stay within budget.
• #1a Administrative cuts for 5 points, gaining 5 points with simple majority
o Mayor hired large staff. Cut the Mayor’s staff and use that money to pay for essential staff
o Hire grant writer to help Philadelphia bring in more money
• #12a Prison cuts for 10 points, gaining 10 points with 14 of 16 votes
o 30,000 people are under arrest without being convicted
o Important to address overcrowding by releasing only nonviolent offenders
o Important to preserve services to released offenders
o Concern over violent offenders falling through the cracks and getting out prison improperly
o Must improve screening. Help people who should be released on bail but are in prison only because they can’t afford bail
o Clear refusal to cut job training
o Most of the money is spent on housing people not on services
• #5a Fire cuts for 10 points, gaining 5points with 13 of 16 votes
o Were unwilling to make substantial cuts like 10% or 20%, settled for 5%
• #15c Streets Dept. Add fee for pay as you throw for 13 points, with 11 of 16 votes, gaining 13 points
o City actually saves money by recycling. Doesn’t have to pay for transfer to landfills.
o Might encourage dumping
o People already dump even though trash pick up is free. There will always be dumpers.
o Create a dump site.
o The majority of citizens will follow the rules. Don’t worry about small minority of rule breakers.
o Enforce littering/dumpling laws
o If there is a bureaucracy to enforce law, might negate savings
o Create standardization. There are inequalities in service between neighborhoods. One resident can put out an item and it gets picked up. A resident of a different neighborhood can put the same item and it gets left behind.
o Willing to pay extra to ensure that trash and recycling is provided every week.
o Questions about logistics for apartments and the role of a private contractor
o What happens if someone does NOT pay? Is their trash not picked up?
o Wants to maintain parity of cuts between police and fire. If police is cut by X, fire should be affected the same way.
• #15a Streets for 10 points, gaining 0 points
o Get rid of red light cameras. How much does it cost to maintain system? Do cameras generate actual revenue/surplus? State and Parking authority pay
o Must keep alley lights. It’s too dangerous without them.
• #15b Streets for 2 points, gaining 2 points with 12 of 16 votes
• #21 Parking for 2 points, gaining 2 points with 10 of 14 votes
o Parking can be cheaper evenings and weekends (peak times)
• #9 Law for 2 points, gaining 1 point with 8 of 14 votes
o Concern over how cuts might affect the City
• #25b Wage/Resident for 12 points, gaining 12 points with 12 of 14 votes
o There is a trade off. We end up losing population/
o Law firms don’t pay income tax.
o The information is too vague to handle this.
o Any tax increase must include sunset clause or expiration date.
• #26b Wage/Commuter for 5 points, gaining 5 points with 11 of 14 votes
o If we’re willing to raise our rates as residents, we should do it for commuters too.
• #24 Sales for 6 points, gaining 0 points with 2 of 14 votes
o Participants compared NJ’s & DE’s tax. Vote failed.

Gut Wrenchers
Total points: 0
• None

Big, Hairy, Ambitious Goals
• Eliminate Row Offices - was volunteered at very end

Memorable Quotes
• If we don’t hit 100%, we don’t hit 100%, but then the City will still cut 100%.
• We did not make it to the following items
o #2 Courts for 10 points
o #4a Fairmount Park for 1 point
o #4b Fairmount Park for 2 points
o #6a Free Library for 1 point
o #6b Free Library for 3 points
o #8a Human Services for 9 points
o #8b Human Services for 19 points
o #10 Licenses & Inspections for 4 points
o #13c Public Health for 1 point
o #18a BPT: Gross Receipts for 2 points
o #18b BPT: Gross Receipts for 2 points
o #19a BPT: Net Income for 2 points
o #19b BPT: Net Income for 2 points
o #22a Real Estate for 5 points
o #22b Real Estate for 5 points
o #23a Real Estate Transfer for 2 points
o #23b Real Estate Transfer for 2 points