Philadelphia cutting 240 police and fire jobs to trim budget

Mayor Nutter says without soda tax money, cuts are a necessity

With Philadelphia City Council deciding against a soda tax, the Nutter Administration plans to institute $20 million worth of cuts to cover the difference.

Mayor Michael Nutter says the city would be in a cash flow crisis without immediate cuts. Nutter dismisses City Council’s idea that the budget gap could be handled otherwise.

“It’s clear there must be some misunderstanding of our cash-flow situation. So let me put it as plainly as possible. We will literally in the general fund run out of money in the course of fiscal year 11.”

To prevent that from happening the cuts include not replacing about 200 retiring police officers and another 40 firefighters. Two fire stations would be closed.

The mayor also says library service will be cut to four days a week, with the exception of the central branch. City Councilman Bill Green is continuing to say the city could deal with the budget approved by Council without the service cuts.