Nutter's budget: Expanded L&I, $16M for Streets Dept.

Mayor Michael Nutter introduced his fiscal year 2015 budget Thursday morning with an emphasis on increased funding for the Department of Licenses and Inspections in the wake of the June building collapse.

"These new employees will supplement L&I’s current emergency services inspectional staff, to ensure safe public and private demolitions in accordance with the recent package of City Council legislation that I signed in response to the building collapse tragedy at 22^nd and Market," he said.

He also made it clear that the budget comes without tax increases.

"This budget proposes no tax increases for the city’s General Fund," he said during his address. "Let me repeat that, there are no tax increases for the general fund in our city budget proposal."

With multiple unions protesting outside, Nutter said he will set aside more than $44.3 million of fund balance for potential labor obligations with District Council Union 33, Local 22 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the Fraternal Order of Police and non-represented employees, and for the cost of the new District Council Union 47 in FY15.

Total tax revenue is expected to be down $41 million in FY15, which translates to a 1.5 percent drop from FY14’s projections.

"This projected decrease for FY15 is due to the expiration of the 1 percent Philadelphia sales tax and reforms in the business income and receipts tax," he said.

The mayor has also committed $131.5 million to capital investments, the highest level since 2002.

Some of the mayor’s FY15 spending proposals include:

• $2 million for the Department of Licenses and Inspections to hire 31 additional inspectors and support staff to strengthen demolition controls to ensure safe public and private demolitions.

• $3.3 million for Office of Innovation and Technology to fund costs associated with significant technology upgrades occurring at the City and to fund the one-time $1.5 million Data Center upgrade.

• $500,000 for Community College of Philadelphia to help offset tuition increases.

• $15 million for Departments of Parks and Recreation to fund improvements to facilities across the city.

• $16 million for the Streets Department to pave neighborhood streets throughout the city.

• $7 million for Fire and Police station improvements as well as for the completion of the former Woodhaven U.S. Army facility for police use.

• $5 million for improvements to neighborhood commercial centers. The improvements include upgrades for curbs, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and parking to complement public and private reinvestment.

• $2.5 million for a concourse extension linking existing underground markets in Suburban Station to the new Comcast Tower.

• $2.5 million for the Free Library of Philadelphia to provide six-day service at all branches throughout the city. Currently, most neighborhood branches only offer five-day service.

• $2.0 million for the Office of Fleet Management to replace aged vehicles in the Police Department and other operating departments.

• $10 million for the Office of Fleet Management to purchase large vehicles such as medic units, pumpers and compactors.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal