WHEREAS, In March 2012, the Administration submitted to City Council a proposed General Fund Operating Budget totaling $3.58b; and
WHEREAS, Events and circumstances since the submission of the budget make it prudent for the Council and the Administration to revisit the Operating Budget and Five-Year Plan to ensure the City's fiscal stability and uninterrupted delivery of essential City services; and
WHEREAS, These events and circumstances include, but are not limited to, unbudgeted costs related to the School District, collective bargaining with the City's non-uniform workers and the International Association of Firefighters' Interest Arbitration Award (IAFF Award) granted July 2, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The IAFF Award alone, if sustained on appeal, could cost the City as much as $203m over the life of the Five-Year Plan; and
WHEREAS, The School District's operating deficit of more than $282m makes it likely the District will seek additional support from the City during the years covered by the Five-Year Plan; and
WHEREAS, On September 6, 2012, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) approved the City's Five-Year Plan after the Administration identified budget cuts that would be made in the event the City is required to implement the IAFF Award; and
WHEREAS, The Administration has indicated that the proposed budget cuts could result in significant negative impacts to the delivery of essential City services; and
WHEREAS, The City is obligated by state law to maintain indefinitely, any financial support it might provide to the District during the life of the Plan, thus putting the City at possible financial risk; and
WHEREAS, The first quarter of Fiscal-Year 2013 will end September 30, 2012, with the first quarter report to be published in November, providing the Council and the Administration with an early opportunity to evaluate cost estimates, revenue projections and other assumptions in the Operating Budget and Five-Year Plan; now therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Philadelphia City Council, Calls for the Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation to hold hearings on the First Quarter results of the City's Fiscal-Year 2013 Operating Budget and 2013 through 2017 Five Year Plan.
End