Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney Releases Revised City Budget Calling For Increased Taxes, Hundreds Of Layoffs

Matt Petrillo reports.

NOT YET COMPLETE THE PAPERSARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO THEPUBLIC.PHILADELPHIA MAYOR JIMKENNEY RELEASED A VIDEOADDRESS ODD HIS BUDGET ANDTHAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THEEFFECT OF THE CORONAVIRUSPANDEMIC AND CALLS FOR NEWTAXES, LAYOFFS AND SHUTTINGDOWN CITY POOLS."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTERMATT PETRILLO'S LIVE ATPHILADELPHIA CITY HALL WITHTHE DETAILS THERE, MATT ALLRIGHT REPORT GOOD AFTERNOON.CALLING BUDGET BEAR BONESPHILADELPHIA MAYOR JIM KENNEYSAYS THAT THE STAY AT HOMEORDER THAT IS STILL IN EFFECTIS CREATING A HUGE LACK OF,TAX COLLECTION AND A BUDGETHOLE NEARLY 650MILLION-DOLLAR.DIFFICULT DECISIONS.REPORTER: MAYOR KENNEYNEWLY PROPOSED BUDGET FORAMERICA'S LARGEST, POOR CITYREDUCES OVERTIME LAYING OFFHUNDREDS OF THE WORKERS, ANDCUTTING SALARIES, TO NONUNIONWORKERS MAKING MORE THAN$35,000 A YEAR, FROM ONE TO7 PERCENT.AND CITY WIDE STREETS SWEEPINGTHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPENTHIS YEAR WILL NO LONGERHAPPEN.I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINLY IHAVE NEVER FACED A DIFFICULT,IN FACT AS A PAINFUL PERIOD ASONE WHICH WE FINE OURSELVESTODAY.REPORTER: KENNEY'SPROPOSING INCREASES TOPROPERTY TAXES, THE PARKINGTAX, AND NONRESIDENT WAGE TAX.THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITHSOME COUNCIL MEMBERS.I THINK IT IS NECESSARYTHAT WE LOOK THROUGH THEBUDGET TO FIND AREAS WHERE WECAN EITHER IDENTIFY SAVINGSBEFORE WE CAN DO SOMETHINGWITH THAT.REPORTER: KENNEY VOTES TOKEEP LIBRARIES OPENED WITHREDUCED HOURS SOMETHING THATTHE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONUNDER FORMER MAYOR MICHAELNUTTER RECEIVED BLOW BACK FORCLOSING, DURING THE 2008REEGGS.I THINK THAT THERE IS SOMELESSONS THAT HAVE PROBABLYBEEN LEARNED FROM THE LAST BIGRECESSION FROM 10 YEARS AGO.WE WILL KEEP ALLPHILADELPHIANS SAFE, HEALTHY,EDUCATED WHILE MAINTAININGCORE PRINCIPAL SERVICES THATOUR RESIDENT RELY ON DAILY.REPORTER: PHILADELPHIA CITYCOUNCIL'S EXPECTED TO STARTDISCUSS AGO THIS BUDGET THISAFTERNOON, WE WILL BRING YOUVERY LATEST ON "EYEWITNESSNEWS" AT 4:00.REPORTING LIVE FROM