Community Budget Workshop
Thursday, February 12, 2009
(Northeast)

1. I live in Philadelphia and work in NJ, having to pay Philly wage tax which is fine but why don’t’ the employees in the Comcast tower pay wage tax?? Why do income-generating businesses (boat clubs, etc.) along the river pay a monthly rent to the city?

2. Why don’t the new parking fees at the museum of art go towards the parks department/city? Etc.!!!

3. Love Harris’s tie!

4. Suspend tax abatements

5. Reduce vehicle make Phillies pay for parade. Make Phillies and Eagles pay the bonds on their stadium. Reduce political patronage

6. Central inventory, control of office supplies and other items: paper, computers, furniture, cars

7. Public Safety Officers, New police officers, decrease pay, decrease training not police. Shift - traffic assignments at accident scenes wires down, road work, concerts, sports etc. Implement some of the efficiencies that the controller has identified

8. Stop the tax abatement for new homes 10 years is absolutely ridiculous

9. Mr. Mayor, You have too many high paid officials on your board. All the little people (as usual) are getting laid off in city government

10. Instead of laying off city employees, cut hours and work days of high paid officials

11. This whole thing is a distraction and a farce made up so that Nutter could have the appearance of an “open and transparent” government. Nutter is a double crossing liar and he should be recalled along with his carpet baggers

12. Philadelphia’s mural program serves close to 3000 young people in the city annually. These programs should not only continue but there should be more programs like map

13. Use collection agencies to collect monies owed to the city. Casinos are stupid revenue generators. Move on outta our neighborhoods!

14. How about rich journalists pay a tax? How about the Philly school district failure rate?

15. 1) Would like those art/history museums pay property taxes 2) University must open libraries and computer centers to neighborhood few hours week and this is community service learning for students

16. The city needs to keep and develop a focus on services for prisoners, both while in prison and re-entry services. Even though the prisons are overcrowded, programs like the options unit, GED programs are extremely important, as well as re-entry programs

17. How about UPenn pay taxes for all the house they knocked down?

18. Progressive taxation now!

19. Drop - stop abuse by elected officials; stop having DROP (retired) employees as consultants; evaluate program every 3 years. If it doesn’t meet its goals dump it

20. Please protect the most vulnerable families during the economic crisis! Do not cut services to children and parents!

21. 1) Stop enclosing envelope with bills that are automatically deducted form checking accounts 2) Advertise when Philly STAT meetings are televised

22. What percent of cuts go towards mural arts and all the extra organizations it supports/works with, such as prisons and schools?

23. Why does the city purchase bottled water for employees when there is a display in the concourse of MSB urging residents to reduce waste by avoiding bottled water? Its 2009, can’t some departments cut down on the excessive amount of paper they use?

24. Denial of $1,100 bonus to non-reps. Why are non-represented employees singled out for no bonus? We do not have a union to bargain for us. Try denying “consultants” their pay. They get amendments to add more $$ to their contracts on a routine basis.

25. 200 cars in MDO’s office how about zero. Get rid of some high priced “do nothings!!” cut mayor and city council 25%

26. Stop letting city employees take city cars home

27. Cut city council paychecks they don’t work anyway

28. Mayor, please keep health centers open

29. Stop spending so much $ to arrest and imprison our citizens for non-violent offenses

30. We think it’s not right that corporations like Verizon, PECO etc. pay not taxes. They should pay something, let them cut back on high paying ad - xxx jobs, and GIVE the kids a break! Kids that are busy are involved are less likely to get in trouble and/or get hurt and it enriches their childhood experience. Thank you. Underwood Family 19149

31. Consultants - They are overpaid and in most cases, not necessary city employees can do what they do only better and cheaper. Why aren’t their contract stopped, downsized or voided? - before one layoff occurs because they have lobbyists and political connections

32. All - city officials pay and positions need to be reviewed by an outside source and all pay needs to be cut in these positions. THEY ARE AT FAULT. Use prisoners for trash pickup

33. City council and mayor’s office etc. are really playing the tax payers because they make sure everyone knows that they “voluntarily” cut their own wages by 5% - the media never mentions that they just gave themselves 15% 2 yrs or less ago AND continue to get colas

34. No cuts to health centers

35. Fix the park. Road edge overgrowth. Hazzardous dead limbs and trees. Lets see more visible city tax dollar improvement they look abandon

36. Good job on forums. Essential services are essential - no cuts! I would pay more in taxes to protect our services

37. More Crawford. And where are our city council members tonight?

38. Stop negotiating past due corporate taxes including real property and litigate to collect the total amount owed

39. STOP using exempt and other departmental procurement personnel and consolidate all procurement in the procurement dept

40. We should not even consider solving this fiscal crisis on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens, = homeless men, women and CHILDREN - any reductions to homeless services, DHS, CBH will result in more people on the street and increased expenses in the future

41. Save Tarken Ice Rink. It’s for the kids

42. STOP TAX ABATEMENT now. Collect $ from state for courts

43. Eliminate 10 yr. Tax abatement program now

44. End BPT net income tax

45. Eliminate the drop program. Collect all back money due to the city spec - property

46. Cut recycling. Go back to twice a month!

47. The show must go on! SAVE PERFORMING ARTS! -Andrea Mullan

48. NO FIRE cuts! They saved my life and my unborn daughter’s life. WE NEED THEM!

49. Eliminate residency requirement for city workers and increase wage commuter tax

50. Suspend tax abatements

51. Share the pain. Cut libraries to 3 days a week! DO NOT close any!

52. With respect to libraries - “equitable reduction” of services/hours across the system if cuts must be made (shared sacrifice) to ensure no closures and that all citizens in all communities have equal access to information and knowledge. Karen D. Lash

53. SAVE CLIP!

54. Recreation IS PROACTIVE!!! Our children need this outlet. Renee Madden

55. Enact PILOT for hospitals, etc.

56. Collect BPT on all businesses that earn money in city

57. Share of gambling revenue

58. You must find a way to have control over city council and some of their bogus employees double dipping drop money and then they are still council members

59. PARKS NEED S.M.A.S seasonal maintenance workers. They keep - parks clean and safe, - work hand for the city; - create safe places for kids to play and learn. Parks are greens spaces the city needs for all people and animals to thrive.

60. Please put sacred cows on the table. Repeat 10-year tax abatements. Property tax assessments. Cut government efficiencies. Suspend water 1st and sewer discounts to non-profits. Tax non-profits ie not paying. Ie. Upenn real estate taxes CHOP. Debt collecting IBC. Collect uncollected $1B bail and court costs. Look at how libraries and their value support Mayor Nutter’s 6-point strategic plan/care services. 1) Education to access knowledge; 2) Job readiness and prep; 3) public safety (safe havens); 4) quality of life - healthy community; 5) customer service - good gov. K. D. Lash

61. End exemptions for bank business privilege tax

62. Eliminate the DROP program. This will save the cities millions of $$. Keep libraries, fire houses, etc. OPEN

63. Drop the Drop for elected officials. Eliminate at large council. End gerrymandering

64. City employees. Eliminate all paid holidays, personal days and vacation days. For 5-year period during budget crisis

65. No cuts, police parks

66. Suing the state to pay what they should on the courts should be higher priority - the public is not aware - publicize it and there will be a groundswell of support

67. All revenue generating sources should be explored; back taxes, fines, fee, etc.

68. You do not cut services in a recession when there will be an increase need for these services. Increase revenues. Collect all fines and fees end the 10 year local property tax abatement and exemption form the BPT for banks, insurance and other finance institution close corporate loop holes allow progress taxation tax dividends and interest

69. Tax abatements were a great idea - but we can no longer afford them. They would be one of my highest priorities to cut an weren’t on the list

70. When need program data, not departmental!

71. Delete city staff holiday pay and no more tax abatement until the city gets back on their feet.

72. LAND VALUE TAX

73. Stop paying consultants for work that city staff can accomplish on their own. Use the resources that are already available. Cut some of new deputy mayor position

74. Re: Licenses and inspection. I think it would be a mistake to fully cut inspections of business and vendors and have this be public knowledge. If the inspections were simply reduced, business and vendor would still have an inceptive to comply. Thanks.

75. DO NOT CUT ARTS PROGRAMS ESPECIALLY YPTC!!!

76. Increase non-resident wage tax only. Revoke any business license for anyone who owes taxes

77. Cut fire, cut police but expand methadone? You have to be kidding! Cut the fluff eliminate the quasi-government. Get back to BASICS!

78. PLEASE make sure that people in shelters have the support they need. BEFORE case management to Ridge shelter and xxx

79. Why when there is a budget crisis happening is the managing directors office allowed to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars for furniture?

80. Being on the stage is what I’m all about!!! The arts need to stay!!!

81. Health centers should not be touched. The more the companies close and layoffs occur, people will need the health centers more and more

82. Don’t cut the arts program keep YPTC alive  No show no go!

83. Please leave the health centers alone! No: privatizations/closings they are the life-line for the city’s uninsured, unemployed, elderly and the poor. No privatization/closing K. Warrakah

84. More cops in street. Corner drugs

85. The arts are my life don’t take that dream please mayor Nutter

86. Young performers theatre camp keeps me going! Don’t take that away!

87. Do not forget God is the Master of everything. Trust him. No more lay off

88. Charge visitors to visit prisoners, charge visitors for parking to visit prisons, cut city council at large members, consolidate city buildings and sell others

89. Fairmont park should not be cut any further. Been under funded for 30 years. Save our parks and open space!

90. The arts department NEEDS TO STAY!!!

91. Families of homicide victims. Need crisis intervention. Bilingual Services at the medical examiner’s office 215.685.7448

92. SAVE YPTC performing arts camp 600 children are depending on you!

93. Lets stop paying Microsoft MegaCorp and switch to Open Source software for schools and library computers. Ubuntu with Firefox and Open Office is easy to use and cross-platform compatible

94. GO Performing ARTS 

95. Cut down on the deputy mayors and politicians and collect what is already owed

96. The Department of Recreation provides much needed services for the youth and future leaders of our area. I know because I am a happy ending form the summer theater camps at Kamp playground

97. dear Mayor Nutter, Enlist or Make bankers save businesses, jobs and homes bottom line: Not banks but save City

98. Why are recycling buckets made in Canada? Where are the products recycled? Why not redo an old factory and recycle our own?

99. Do not cut staff for Day camps, After School Programs, and other recreation programs!

100. What about the safety of the people of Philadelphia with the cuts to Fire and Police?

101. Stop the drop program. Keep libraries open - share the closures across the city. Cut the city parks: Eagles, Phillies, box seats etc. these do not benefit the majority of citizens

102. Eliminate the drop program. Save the children’s welfare. Save all 54 libraries, schools and rec. centers. Reinstate fire and police immediately. We need our education to survive

103. Housing for people with low-income who get less than $300 a month Endora Burton 215.985.6254

104. No more than one exempt employee for every 250 employees in any department

105. NO CUT BACKS IN THE DEPT OF RECREATION AND FIRE DEPT

106. Stop contracting out sweetheart deals to law firms, real estate consultants, info tech companies and train city employees! Savings of millions

107. THE FIRE DEPT WAS ALREADY CUT BY 10X!

108. Fix all bridges and road work. Why are the traffic cameras billed form OHIO?

109. Collect what is owed to the city. Raise taxes

110. If things are so tough create a public safety TAX until economy and gets spend better on public safety

111. Why are police being laid off - Firehouse closing? Why not - Streets Dept., Welfare and Public Schools?

112. No cuts to libraries

113. PGW 1 billion in debt. Last year we paid $15 per million cubic feet for natural gas. This year the price is $4.92 per, why does it cast as much this year as last year to heat home. Lynn Abraham Drop program - 500,000 plus 8700 per month pension. That’s a reason why city has no money

114. Do Not Cut police and fire departments. Cut - Administrative duties, trash and recycling

115. WITHOUT THE ARTS I HAVE NOTHING TO DO!

116. DO NOT CLOSE OR CUT THE FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH CENTER #10

117. If Mayor Nutter has formed a new department of technology, why are contracts being awarded to outside consultants to perform the same work that “Dot” is suppose to be doing?

118. Do Not cut the health dept. Do not cut food inspections increase efficiency decrease city councils pay

119. Keep all department of recreation performing arts these programs (camps) produce wonderful young men and women who give back to the community through these programs and other opportunity in the city

120. Make city council take pay cuts. Do not allow someone to retire on Friday get their job back on Mon. with bonuses

121. Funding for nurse family partnership 215.985.6254 Eudora Burton

122. Mitchell Pool. Morrell Ave. Ideas: 1. Spring and fall fundraise to bring in revenue (membership); 2. Monthly fee of $20 - 30 a month to use pool or if people want to pay daily fee to $1 - 2 a day 3. Trash at playground organize community clean up day to local boy scouts

123. 1. How about getting money owed to this city from the Philadelphia Eagles? Goes back to Norman Bramm days 2. Any chance for like sponsorship (orchestra sponsor recreation cultural program) for some city services?

124. Health centers - services are essential where would people go to hospitals they would be overwhelmed

125. Scott Cummings - Tarken ice rink. Please do not cut Tarken recreation budget - already been cut by 57% and children still come to skate and play ice hockey

126. More funding for the department of recreation. Namely, its performing arts department. It helps keep kids off the street, keeps them motivated, builds confidence, studies show that children involved in the arts test better, do better in school, and are MORE likely to go to college than children who are not

127. Before laying off large # employees reduce their hours of days per pay or pay month

128. Why compromise public safety? For a few dollars? How much is one life worth because you cut public safety? Collect the taxes that are owed?

129. Accountability. Publish all expenses for the city. Did we have to mention the explanation of the river front when we are in debt up to our holly hocks, tear down abandoned houses, don’t tear down the Spectrum

130. CUT NUTTER’S INCREASING STAFF! Why do tax payers pay for city council beverages and snacks?

131. Parks and open space are critical to quality of life in Phila. No Fairmont Park cuts!!

132. D. Bdondo. School Dist. of Phila. The school districts blue collar work force is so thin that a school that use to have 10 people in it now has 4 and a maintenance dept. that use to have 500 now has 300 this is all due to non-hiring are we going to wait until someone gets heat or killed before hiring

133. When someone calls 911 they expect the right equipment to respond. How can that happen if you continue to cut public safety 2

134. Get rid of the Mayor’s multi-million $ enterprise!

135. Publish: What’s coming in $. What’s going on $. What’s going out $.

136. I would like to see the clip program saved and expanded. Not only is it an excellent program, but its results are quicker, more thorough, and much more evident than any other city program or function. I would like to meet a good-looking single woman my age (68) - Allan Leppert

137. What next!

138. No tax loopholes for big corporations

139. Please protect the city health centers. Walter Troy - Mt. Airy

140. City of Philadelphia’s mayor get PGW out of cost intensive deal made with CDR financial products. Cost to PGW customers 5.2% more on their monthly gas bills. Dominic Ragucci - Somerton Civic Association 215.677.0509

141. Stop funding for Charter schools they are more public schools

142. Is anyone aware that they have already cut 5 engine companies. 2 ladders which equal to 148 positions. Why is city council free of budget cuts?

143. Hire retired teachers part time during school year for 4 hours after school to man the libraries (no benefits cost)

144. Money should be spent on programs that benefit the children with this city. Not on burnt out neighborhoods with no guarantee of revival

145. From: AlCoxTEX@yahoo.com Dear Mayor Nutter, Thanks for meeting with bankers and financial institution. Please enlist their leadership and sacrifice in saving businesses and jobs with credit change bottom line to “saving city: not banks. Alex.

146. Cut funds for public schools they get Free: schooling, bus, breakfast and lunch. Parents are also on welfare getting money for what taxpayers are already paying fo

147. I understand that these forums were created to help people understand the difficulties of balancing a budget but the reality is that we, citizens, were not elected to office to make the tough decisions the MAYOR was. Please stop trying to spread the guilt. We will do our job (advocating for our group) YOU DO YOURS!

148. Will the mayor promise that no government money will be used for the construction of a casino? Operation of a casino? Security in and out of casino? Financing of a casino?

149. Sticker: NO CUTS! Essential Services are Essential!

150. Cut trash men and their overtime

151. This is not the democratic process required by the charter. Being labeled and grouped is fascist! Hold real hearings in city council! I didn’t vote for U of P!

152. No cuts to education

153. Open PAL’s Police Athletic Centers for children in NE North of Cottman Ave.

154. Why waste money on food for these meetings?

155. With all the cuts and the mayor putting cuts and limits on him and his staff salaries. Why doesn’t city council members have similar cuts and freezes on their salaries? How is it that a council member can retire one day and then be reinstated just collect more money?

156. Hi, if we don’t keep the libraries open to broaden our youths minds we will be housing them in prisons, in ten years, at taxpayers expense - Margaret M. Winbline

157. Stop the Drop. Where is city council tonight - elected officials sd. Not be able to collect Drop $ and be elected back into office the next day

158. Denial of “credential-based” city employee bonuses. These professional licensed employees earned these bonuses in 2008. Denying this is akin to stealing their already earned money. Besides being dishonest (Reneging on a previous agreement) it is a slap in the face of your expert employees who maintain professional credentials. Stopping the program for 2009 is fair; that I agree with

159. Why is TRASH on my block? Not being picked up until after 5pm. I guess this means more of my hard earned tax dollars are being wasted with overtime costs

160. If the mayor cuts the fires department people and kids will die.

161. The city needs to appreciate their providers. Prevention providers have not been paid for 5 months

162. The city has too many consultants at enormous salaries!!! WASTE

163. Reduce trash pick-up to every two weeks

164. Don’t raise the cost on taxi driver to work at Philadelphia International Airport. These poverty stricken workers already is seeing a decline in their earnings. If you need money that bad don’t cut the business privilege tax, get the money from Comcast, Verizon, and others who receive tax breaks. Taxi Workers Alliance

165. Keep all free health centers open for people that don’t have med care

166. Co-pays for insured and uninsured. Medical center patients should be collected

167. Prevention services need to be coordinated across multiple systems with a recognition that money spent on prevention today results in a savings in the future. Services must be realigned and resources better utilized

168. As a person involved in my surroundings, I have a few deep concerns about city finances: 1) Why are so many properties allowed to collect tax and water bills (often for years)? 2) Would it not be better to auction them within the 1st year (better yet 6 mos) to a person motivated enough to seek it out and keep a block vibrant and productive? 3) I worry about this as a person not paying bills is DEFINITELY NOT maintaining property either

169. Marc Crawford - Broken government particularly among all levels of elected officials and the staff

170. Council should immediately END all the new property improvement tax abatements. Tax abatements should only be given for new or rehabbed property in blighted neighborhoods. Certainly not between river to river from Girard to South

171. Cuts in the department of recreation programs will put more kids on the street. Cuts in police will give these children a bigger reign to get into trouble. Start with the cutting the large staff at city hall

172. Save Tarken ice rink - Brian Wilson

173. The consultation and Education Specialist (C&E) assists children, families, and school personnel by connecting those identified “at risk” kids with services and resources that ultimately help them succeed at home/school C&E is a significant prevention effort that we cannot lose in the city of Philadelphia. Any budget cuts to this program would prove to be detrimental to Philadelphia’s children.

174. Suggestion. Tax all center city parking garages

175. How much money would be saved if we didn’t have these meetings and put the money toward not doing the cuts

176. The city is doing its best under terrible circumstances but PARKS BUDGET IS MINIMAL NOW - MORE CUTS = DISASTER

177. Have city council stop absorbing the millage that is assessed each year by the school board and have the courage to assess the general fund millage each year according to budgetary needs. The SB has raised their millage almost every year in the last 15 to 20 years and the council - too afraid of the public to do their job - has absorbed it

178. My mother is 91 and has been going to the health center at Cottman and Bustleton for 40 years. If it closes, it will be difficult to get somewhere far.