Philadelphia City Council, Mayor Reach Preliminary Budget Deal Overnight

Trang Do reports.

AND THE COMMODORE BARRY BRIDGE,THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION ISREDUCED TO ONLY ONE LANE OPEN TOTRAVEL.NOW TO OUR TOP STORY THISMORNING, PHILADELPHIA CITYCOUNCIL AND MAYOR KENNEY HAVEREACHED A PRELIMINARY BUDGETDEAL THAT INCLUDES SOME DEEPCUTS TO POLICE SPENDING.EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER TRANGDO IS LIVE AT CITY HALL THISMORNING WITH THE DETAILS THERE.TRANG.WELL, JANELLE, IT WAS A LATENIGHT FOR COUNCIL WHO INITIALLYPLANNED TO STOP AT 5:00 P.M.

BUTENDED UP HAVING A MARATHONSESSION.NOW THIS BUDGET WILL LIKELYPLEASE THOSE CALLING FOR REDUCEDSPENDING FOR THE POLICEDEPARTMENT TO DIVERT THAT MONEYTO SOCIAL SERVICES.SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT, CITYCOUNCIL'S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLEAPPROVED A $4.9 BILLION BUDGETFOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, WHICHBEGINS ON JULY 1ST.A BALANCED BUDGET IS REQUIRED,WHICH MEANS DIFFICULT CUTS WEREINEVITABLE, TO PLUG A DEFICIT OFTHREE-QUARTERS OF A BILLIONDOLLARS CAUSED MOSTLY BY THERIPPLE EFFECTS OF COVID-19.THE REDUCTION IN REVENUES ISGOING TO BE MORE THAN THEYORIGINALLY PROJECTED.I THINK IT'S AROUND SEVENHUNDRED TO 750 MILLION.HARVEY RISE IS THE EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR OF PIKE A, PENNSYLVANIAINTERGOVERNMENTAL CORPORATIONAUTHORITY, WHO WILL REVIEW THEBUMMING ET TO MAKE SURE IT'SFAIR AND BALANCED.THEY NEED TO A BALANCEDBUDGET THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOUNTFOR THE LOSS OF REVENUE.IT INCLUDES 33 MILLION INCUTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.BUT IT ALSO CALLS FORIMPLEMENTING REFORMS INCLUDINGBODY CAMERAS, BIAS TRAINING ANDA POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES 20MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSINGAND 25 MILLION TO ADDRESSPOVERTY.IT ALSO RESTORES ABOUT$1.3 MILLION IN ARTS AND CULTUREFUNDING.TO HELP CLOSE THE DEFICIT, THEPARKING TAX IN THE CITY WILLTEMPORARILY INCREASE FOR ONEYEAR, AS WILL THE WAGE TAX FORNON-PHILADELPHIA RESIDENTSWORKING IN THE CITY.IN A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THECOMMITTEE'S BUDGET VOTE, MAYORJIM KENNEY SAID IN PART SAIDQUOTE IT PAINS ME THIS BUDGETREDUCES SOME CITY SERVICES ANDELIMINATES HUNDREDS OF JOBS.STILL WE HAVE PRIORITY TEASEDCORE SERVICES PROTECTED OUR HOWFAST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS ANDOUR FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY TOENABLE A QUICK REBOUND.IT WILL GET THE FIRSTREADING AT THE REGULAR COUNCILMEETING LATER ON THIS MORNING.IT MUST BE FINALIZED BYJUNE 25TH.