Nutter visits Capitol seeking support for budget
HARRISBURG - Mayor Nutter spent the day in the Capitol yesterday lobbying top lawmakers to approve two cornerstones of his proposed 2009-10 budget aimed at infusing the financially strapped city with cash and avoiding steep cuts in services.
HARRISBURG - Mayor Nutter spent the day in the Capitol yesterday lobbying top lawmakers to approve two cornerstones of his proposed 2009-10 budget aimed at infusing the financially strapped city with cash and avoiding steep cuts in services.
The mayor met with legislative leaders from both parties, as well as members of the city's delegation, in an effort to persuade them to sign off on his plans to temporarily raise the sales tax in the city and make actuarial changes to the city's pension fund.
Though Nutter has made it a point to personally meet with lawmakers in the Capitol, his trip here yesterday signified just how important it is to him - governmentally and politically - to line up Harrisburg's top political brass behind the proposals.
The two measures, which require state approval, are expected to save the city roughly $700 million over five years.
Without Harrisburg's approval, the mayor would have to turn to what he calls "Plan B" to balance the city's budget for the next fiscal year: cuts to police and fire services, as well as recreation centers, libraries, and health centers.
"It's important for me to be there in person," Nutter said yesterday. "The members appreciate it when something is important to political leaders, that they come ask for it themselves."
But Nutter faces tough hurdles, including Republicans who control the Senate.
Although top Senate leaders seem open to Nutter's pension proposal, they continue to have major problems with the idea of raising the sales tax in Philadelphia, even temporarily, from 7 percent to 8 percent. The increase would last for three years.
Suburban Philadelphia lawmakers have also expressed concerns with the sales-tax proposal. Even some top Democrats have been noncommittal: for instance, Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, has not yet thrown his support behind the plan.
Nutter does, however, have one key ally: Gov. Rendell.
Rendell has said he supports a sales-tax increase in the city, and has vowed to work hard to persuade lawmakers to give Nutter the authority to do so.
"I'm going to work hard to get the enabling legislation. I believe Mayor Nutter and Council should have that right, if they want it," Rendell has said of the sales-tax proposal. "It's not going to be easy, but we definitely want to help."
