Mayor Nutter Says He Must Cut 300 Jobs

PHILADELPHIA - Mayor Michael Nutter told the Fox 29 News at 5 why he's cutting future police classes and firefighters in the aftermath of city council approving the budget Thursday.

The moves are in response to council failing to OK his proposed soda tax and instead passing the budget with a hefty 9.9-percent property tax increase, along with a tobacco tax and commercial trash fee.

The mayor said those measures don't do enough to close the budget shortfall.

Nutter said he needs to cut an additional $20 million from city government. They'll have fewer officers on the streets than previously planned, and the fire department will liekly see some fire companies lost along with 40 positions.

Fox 29 News' Thomas Drayton asked the mayor, "I mean the soda tax was the saving grace of the city? With all of the intelligent people at City Hall, it was the soda tax?"

"Thomas, we're putting together a budget and we had a series of measures that went together," Nutter answered. "If we don't have the resources to do it, whether it was the soda tax or something else, city council could have made other choices. They proposed the increase in real estate taxes. If you raised by a little more than what they voted for, we would have the resources."

But the plan he pitched Thursday afternoon is definitely not sitting well with union leaders.

"I wasn't kidding when I says, 'Lock your doors, stay behind them, put a gun under your pillow and put buckets of water," firefighters union President Bill Gault said. "That's what he's making this city. He stated himself he couldn't cut no more, so now today it's a new threat? It just has to stop. It's unprofessional. Find the money"

Fraternal Order of Police President John McNesby said, "Not only would the citizens be in danger. We've got officers that are out there that are in danger. They want to be able to get on that radio, if it works, and be able to get help.

The mayor's also talking about cutting library hours, trimming the licenses and inspection budget and eliminating certain new programs.

But Nutter is also taking flak from council members.

"I find these cuts disappointing, cynical and really retribution for council not passing a sugary-sweetened beverage tax," Councilman Bill Green, who went on to say that taxpayers who lost out Thursday.