Philadelphia City Council scrutinizes mayor’s office at budget hearing

The Philadelphia City Council is reviewing Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed budget by scrutinizing spending department by department.Today, it was the Mayor’s office itself, that was put under the microscope.

The Philadelphia City Council is reviewing Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed budget by scrutinizing spending department by department.Today, it was the Mayor’s office itself, that was put under the microscope.
WHYY’s Tom MacDonald reports
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Councilman Bill Green was among those asking the mayor’s Chief of Staff Clay Armbrister about how the mayor’s office is working to trim their budget in the midst of the city’s budget crisis and about their claims that they are trimming positions.

Armbrister: It’s a confusing question in part because these are vacancies occurred, these are vacancies  that occurred from our last budget.

Green: They’ve never actually actually been filled positions isn’t that right.

Armbrister: I’m not sure that they’ve never been filled
because of the NTI reorganization that we did, at so it goes back to at least the NTI. 

Green: Who previously held those positions?

Armbrister: I don’t know.

Armbrister says the mayor’s office has trimmed a half million dollars from their budget and are doing their part to help deal with the city’s fiscal crisis.