Council set to plunder budget

[eldondre]

Approaching the end of the 2009 budget year and caught in one of the worst economies of our time, Philadelphia City Council is still expected to spend nearly 8 percent more than it did in 2008..., Council's own estimates show that by June 30 it will have spent about $15.7 million - $1 million more than it did the previous fiscal year.an analysis of past budgets and current spending estimates indicates that Council set itself up for a hefty 2009 budget year last spring - before the economy collapsed - by seeking an increase in its staff budget of almost 11 percent, or about $40,000 for each of 17 Council offices. That allowed members to hire more staff and give 104 employees raises ranging from 3 percent to 40 percent since July. Council employs about 200 people...Council's increase can also be attributed to an estimated $650,000 contracted for outside lawyers and a traffic consultant for lawsuits filed over casinos and gun control...Council achieved staff reductions not by layoffs, furloughs, or hiring freezes, but by paring down long-vacant positions - some once occupied by former politicians and ward leaders - and political padding built into the budget.

For instance, Council still had on its books $53,645 for a "port liaison" position once occupied by former City Councilwoman Patricia Hughes, who left in 2005. An additional $6,900 remained from part of a budget-analyst position vacated in 2006 by GOP ward leader Chris Vogler, now with the Parking Authority.

Councilman Jack Kelly's budget was down because his $91,000 chief of staff, Christopher Wright, was indicted on corruption charges in August, suspended by Kelly in September, convicted in February, and then fired...Many grumble over Nutter's increased spending on his own office last year - which was 18 percent over Mayor John F. Street's first year in office.

But as the budget crisis widened last year, Nutter cut his own pay by 10 percent and that of his cabinet by 5 to 10 percent. He ordered exempt employees citywide earning over $50,000 to take a week of unpaid leave in the current budget year and one week in 2010. Thirty-seven exempt employees were laid off.

The 2010 Mayor's Office budget is 31 percent lower than the estimated actual 2009 expenditures, compared with Council's proposed 2 percent increase.

"There are always efficiencies to be gained in every organization," said Councilman Green, who recently hired a public-relations specialist at $35,000 a year and handed out some of the highest raises on Council since July. "We should look wherever we can find additional efficiencies in City Council's operation."

they could take a 30% paycut for their part time job
City Council's budget expected to increase | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/01/2009

[raider.adam]

I am going to take an "I told you so" moment and point out something I have been saying since the first day it was reported they were going to pass those 5 gun laws.

Council's increase can also be attributed to an estimated $650,000 contracted for outside lawyers and a traffic consultant for lawsuits filed over casinos and gun control. Members say these costs pay for policy goals of fighting gun violence and regulating casino development.

There is a real cost to us, the taxpayer, for City Hall passing obviously illegal legislation (gun laws).

It shows that Mayor Nutter, Councilman Clarke and City Solicitor Smith probably cost us a couple hundred thousand dollars in this ineffectual attempt at grandstanding (ineffectual because so far at least 4 of the 5 laws have been overturned with the fifth probably being overturned once the City tries to enforce it).

[desolate]

I bet fighting the casinos cost more than $650,000.

Multiple Supreme Court battles aren't cheap.

No withstanding the loss by them not operating.

[eldondre]

The economy's in the tank and Mayor Nutter is so desperate to balance the budget he's resorted to the nuclear option: tax hikes. But City Council is as fat and happy as ever.

Council already wrangled an 11 percent budget boost used to reward staffers, my colleague Jeff Shields reports. And a half-dozen Council members will soon pocket $2.1 million in retirement incentives, even if none of them retires.

Verna doesn't get the fuss.

Why should she be denied the $571,679 perk that so nicely complements her city-issued Crown Vic, nine-month work year, $140,864 salary, and hefty pension for life?

"I think," Verna said of the DROP in her bucket, "I'm entitled to it."

Monica Yant Kinney: DROP: As in, 'dead politically' | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/01/2009
are any of thes e bums up for reelection?

[raider.adam]

Monica Yant Kinney: DROP: As in, 'dead politically' | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/01/2009
are any of thes e bums up for reelection?

all in 2011

[phillyaggie]

Everybody loves OPM and feels entitled to it.

OPM = other people's money

OPM also sounds very similar to "opium"... and is just as easy to get hooked on to!

[billy ross]

I personally think that Nutter is trying to put Council on the defensive as we come up to the budget negotiations. He is sort of trying to emasculate it so that it will be that much easier to push his agenda through.

[eldondre]

I personally think that Nutter is trying to put Council on the defensive as we come up to the budget negotiations. He is sort of trying to emasculate it so that it will be that much easier to push his agenda through.

he's getting the Inky's help and, more importantly, council. they're overpaid and boy do they seem out of touch. the sense of entitlement is sickening. Nutter couldn't have thought of worse things to say than "I'm entitled to it." really, they gotta go.

[billy ross]

The timing of all of these 'revelations' is suspicious. Council will need the mayor's help if the electorate becomes furious at them, and isn't this great timing for the mayor to have Council beholden to him? Clearly certain Council members are guilty of foot in mouth disease - maybe they should hire Ken Snyder as a collective spokesman? When Goode was tone deaf to the electorate with the Latrice Bryant fiasco, that was one thing, but now Anna Verna is in the hot seat, with others along with her.

[eldondre]

The timing of all of these 'revelations' is suspicious. Council will need the mayor's help if the electorate becomes furious at them, and isn't this great timing for the mayor to have Council beholden to him? Clearly certain Council members are guilty of foot in mouth disease - maybe they should hire Ken Snyder as a collective spokesman? When Goode was tone deaf to the electorate with the Latrice Bryant fiasco, that was one thing, but now Anna Verna is in the hot seat, with others along with her.

I don't think any of these are really revelations nor do i I find any this suspicious. perhaps you've heard the expression "strike while the iron is hot" that goes for the press, Nutter, and people like myself who have long been fed up with the poor quality of leadership on council but now have the aid of the press to help put it all together..I've always been angered by DROP, but now's the time to push. this is why katz didn't run again last time, the iron wasn't hot.

[eldondre]

I stayed until 7, it was almost entirely organized groups. there was only one lady who wasn't affiliated and she brought up DROP, the council budget, and the city worker pay. nice. other than that, everyone was uniformly against the property tax hike. seems like the public part of these things is kind of a joke, though it gets banged around a lot by some folks as a positive.

[caL]

"Why should she be denied the $571,679 perk that so nicely complements her city-issued Crown Vic, nine-month work year, $140,864 salary, and hefty pension for life?"
--Monica Yant Kinney article.

This line makes me sick. She's getting from DROP what the average Philadelphian works several years to accumulate. This in addition to a 6 figure salary, unreal benefits and a work schedule that makes a behind-the-counter KFC job sound demanding.

[raider.adam]

I stayed until 7, it was almost entirely organized groups. there was only one lady who wasn't affiliated and she brought up DROP, the council budget, and the city worker pay. nice. other than that, everyone was uniformly against the property tax hike. seems like the public part of these things is kind of a joke, though it gets banged around a lot by some folks as a positive.

Yeah ... even if I got out of work early enough to attend (umm hello, 5 pm start time? Evening meetings shouldn't be earlier than 6 pm for those of us that don't work in the City) I was skeptical on the usefulness. El, you probably saw an even more organized version of what I wrote about in regards to the budget workshops. Everyone knows what the deal is now and it has left the realm of discussion and turned into populist screaming.

I am curious if this will end up biting some politicians in the ass because the budget now is revolving around who yells loudest which tends to ignore the silent majority.

Also, El, how much about the actual budget was open for discussion. Did they supply where money was going and program info or was it just a big public vent session so they can say they held public meetings?

[raider.adam]

"Why should she be denied the $571,679 perk that so nicely complements her city-issued Crown Vic, nine-month work year, $140,864 salary, and hefty pension for life?"
--Monica Yant Kinney article.

This line makes me sick. She's getting from DROP what the average Philadelphian works several years to accumulate. This in addition to a 6 figure salary, unreal benefits and a work schedule that makes a behind-the-counter KFC job sound demanding.

Actually, that DROP number is closer to what the average Philadelphian takes over 15 years to make... just to help the perspective.

[Dave]

Yeah ... even if I got out of work early enough to attend (umm hello, 5 pm start time? Evening meetings shouldn't be earlier than 6 pm for those of us that don't work in the City)

Even when I used to work in the city, I wouldn't have been able to make it to something that started at 5pm.

[eldondre]

Yeah ... even if I got out of work early enough to attend (umm hello, 5 pm start time? Evening meetings shouldn't be earlier than 6 pm for those of us that don't work in the City) I was skeptical on the usefulness.

it was 5-8 pm. I got there about 20 after, people came and went. I don't think that's unreasonable, certain far better than te 10 am and 1 pm times that seem to be the standard for meetings.

Also, El, how much about the actual budget was open for discussion. Did they supply where money was going and program info or was it just a big public vent session so they can say they held public meetings?

no data. the administration stated their piece, council had a few questions, then registered speakers went up, mostly from groups such as Project Home, etc. DHS had a few heartwarming stories (as if that means there's no waste) and everyone justified their piece. to be honest, the elderly black lady who wasn't affiliated was hilarious. berating council for not wanting to share the pain, keeping their perks, railed against the sales tax (like we won't be driving to DE anyways for 0%!), and especially the property tax hike. Actually, come to think of it, there was another unaffiliated guy and he came to complain specifically about the property tax hike. I'd be surprised if yuppie support for the prop tax hikes isn't out of line with the rest of the city. nonetheless, council does run the risk of thinking no one wants any tax increases, service cuts, or cuts to people's salaries.

[Illiniwek]

I stayed until 7, it was almost entirely organized groups. there was only one lady who wasn't affiliated and she brought up DROP, the council budget, and the city worker pay. nice. other than that, everyone was uniformly against the property tax hike. seems like the public part of these things is kind of a joke, though it gets banged around a lot by some folks as a positive.

This is why I sometimes refer to Philly as the city where American democracy was born but also the city where it's never been tried.

[eldondre]

About 200 Philadelphia residents turned out at a City Council budget hearing at Temple University yesterday evening to offer their opinions on budget issues including proposed real estate tax increases, favored city programs, and Council's perks.
Council rarely meets outside City Hall. But in light of the budget criticism - and the spending cuts and tax increases it is likely to demand - Council is scheduled to hold evening and weekend hearings outside Center City to give residents a chance to be heard.

Last night's session touched upon a wide variety of topics and included little back-and-forth between Council and the Philadelphians who testified. Many said they opposed higher property taxes, and one woman suggested Council look at its own spending first. "Is City Council going to share our pain?" asked North Philadelphia resident Madeline Shikomba.

The next Council field hearing is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. April 23 at the Mount Airy Church of God, 6401 Ogontz Ave. - Patrick Kerkstra

Council takes tax hearing on road and gets an earful | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/02/2009

Madeline was a riot. I think it's clear that if Nutter wants property tax increases, the abatements are going to have to be killed. In some ways, these people really do get it. Property tax increases hit people's bottom line, regardless of income. the whole "your house went up in value" is a yuppie argument. I noticed this when living in roxborough. the newcomers saw their house as an investment while the old timers saw it as their home. at any rate, there's some good quotes in here:

"The people who are struggling have to pay a tax, and people who can afford to live in these multimillion-dollar condos, who can afford even to carry little puppies in their pocketbooks like Hollywood celebrities, don't have to pay taxes for the next 10 years," Marcano said. "That is simply not fair.".."I'm not sure there's much Council support for property-tax increases, period," said Councilman Darrell Clarke. "But it might make the property-tax hikes a little more palatable if we take away some of the abatement."..At a series of February budget workshops organized by the University of Pennsylvania and WHYY, attendees said they opposed higher real-estate taxes largely because of the abatements, said workshop leader Chris Satullo...

Property-tax abatements prompt anger | Philly | 04/02/2009
something not mentioned but that surfaced a coupel of times, the arbitrary nature in which taxes are assessed and that their taxes had already been increased dramatically. this stuff is happening and the mayor should be aware.
Jannie Blackwell was absent and Anna "I'm entitled" Verna had virtually nothing to say. Green was well spoken and Clarke spoke up a few times.

[niel]

Carry little puppies?? WTF?

I have to admit I was surprised at how baldly those Council members laid it out there - "I'm entitled to it." That is indeed a really bad sound bite; can't imagine their campaign managers would be happy to hear them put it this way.

[Illiniwek]

Carry little puppies?? WTF?

I have to admit I was surprised at how baldly those Council members laid it out there - "I'm entitled to it." That is indeed a really bad sound bite; can't imagine their campaign managers would be happy to hear them put it this way.

The voters will probably punish them by re-electing them.

As long as Philadelphians are willing to take the abuse, local politicians are willing to keep dishing it out.