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Nutter Unveils Next Budget With Few Spending Increases

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Mayor Michael Nutter delivered his new budget this morning to City Council, unveiling a hold-the-line spending plan.

For the first time in three years, Nutter's budget is not a "doom and gloom" scenario. With the recession perhaps easing, and tax revenues for the city finally stabilizing, Nutter's new spending plan has no new taxes, no major cuts in services, and some very modest -- almost token -- increases.

The $34 million in new spending includes:

-- $6 million for the first new class at the Philadelphia Police Academy in several years.

-- $2.6 million for fire department overtime (a US Supreme Court ruling has delayed a new Fire Academy class).  Despite this increase, the department will continue its controversial policy of 'rolling closures' of fire stations.

-- $4 million for the new Office of Property Assessment, for the hiring of new assessors and upgraded computer systems, as the city moves toward a revamped assessment system.

-- $1 million for new literacy programs.

-- $500,000 for a crime reward fund.

And for the first time, the budget includes a line item for snow removal: in this case, $4 million.

Also, the budget calls for $100 million in capital projects, for police and fire stations, computer systems, and the repaving of streets.

Hear Mayor Nutter's entire budget address in this CBS Philly podcast...

Podcast

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nutter budget addr  tawa
(Photo by KYW's Steve Tawa)

Nutter is cautioning City Council that this spending plan is of course subject to massive changes, depending on potential funding cuts from both Harrisburg and Washington, DC as budgets get worked out at the state and federal level.

So, what Council is receiving today (interrupted for a few minutes by protesters shouting from the gallery of City Council Chambers) could very well change by the time the budget takes effect on July 1st.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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