City's Budget Doomsday Looms
Layoff Notices To Come With Paychecks Next Friday
PHILADELPHIA - The Pennsylvania state budget stalemate continues to drag on, and the hold up in Harrisburg could have a doomsday effect right here in Philadelphia.
The first layoff notices have not been mailed out just yet. However, the first signs of the pending layoffs and closings are going up as early as Thursday, Fox 29's Steve Keeley reported.
For instance, if you're one of the 25,000 people who use one of the city's libraries every day, look up as you walk through the doors because you'll see signs on the doors starting Thursday that they may soon be forced to shut down.
If you're one of the 3,000 city workers on the layoff list, expect your layoff notice a week from Friday with your paycheck. Those layoffs would take effect Oct. 2 unless a compromise somehow comes to fruition.
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Harrisburg staff reported in Wednesday's editions that a compromise is in the works. However, when you read the article that compromise looks like just one big mess that's not going to get done anytime soon.
"These will be increasingly difficult times for us," Mayor Michael Nutter told his cabinet. "I do not know ultimately what will happen in Harrisburg. I cannot be more proud of the service that all of you have provided. You have kept your groups and your teams together, you've kept them focused. And even though there are at present at least 3,000 public employees facing the prospect in 10 days of getting a layoff notice, you have kept this government together, you've kept it strong and focused on the task at hand."
In Harrisburg there are several thoughts, one of them being going back to the original bill without all of the proposed changes to the pension system, which the unions are against and seems likely to be voted down.
Either way, the whole process is being dragged out likely beyond this week, and that's why the layoff notices a lot of people thought would never go out in the mail could actually arrive in the mail a week from Friday.
On Tuesday dozens of religious leaders gathered in Harrisburg for a solution to the state's budget problems. The group included Catholic, Protestant and Jewish members. They asked God to provide politicians with wisdom, understanding and sense of responsibility.
The budget stalemate is currently in its third month.
