Philadelphia cuts budget even more
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
Mayor Michael Nutter has announced another $27 million in cuts on top of the $20 million he and City Council agreed to in May.
The reductions are certain to be controversial. The police department must eliminate $6.3 million from its overtime budget. Firehouses will be closed on a rolling basis. That means that, on any given day, four to five stations will be shut.
The cuts also call for wiping out an ambitious plan for planting street trees.
City officials warn matters could get worse once contracts are finalized with white and blue-collar public worker unions. Those employees have been working without a contract for a year.