Coronavirus Philadelphia: City Budget Facing Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In Cuts

Matt Petrillo reports.

THAN 45,000 COVID-19 CASES INPENNSYLVANIA ARE ASSOCIATEDWITH LONG TERM CAREFACILITIES.WE ARE LESS THAN ONE DAYFROM THE MAYOR OF THEPHILADELPHIA RELEASING HISPROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX SHORTFALL OF THE HUNDREDS OFMILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS EXPECTTO COME WITH IT."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTERMATT PETRILLO HAS THE NEWDEVELOPMENTS.REPORTER: CITY OFFICIALS IHAVE TALK TO ADMIT BUDGETTALKS WILL BE DEEP BUT THEYARE HOPEFUL THAT THE CITY WILLGET THROUGH THIS.STILL THE REALITY IS WITH SOMANY BUSINESSES, SHUT DOWN, ABIG LACK OF TAX REVENUE ISBEING COLLECTED AND THAT ISCREATING A HUGE HOLE IN THEBUDGET.WHILE THE BUDGET'S EXPECT TOBE RELEASED ON FRIDAY SOURCESTOLD "EYEWITNESS NEWS" WHAT WEMIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPECT.THE CITY WILL SEE$370.4 MILLION IN REDUCTION, AHIRING FREEZE, EXCEPT FORPUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES, AREDUCTION OF THE PART-TIME ANDTEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, CITY WILLBE LOOKING FOR A LOT OF ONETIME COST REDUCTIONS, LIKEPOSSIBLY NOT HOSTING THEJULY 4TH WELCOME AMERICAFESTIVAL THIS YEAR.CITY'S COMMITTED TO KEEPINGALL LIBRARIES, REC CENTERSOPENED BUT HOURS REDUCED,POOLS MAY NOT OPENED IN PARTBECAUSE OF THE BUDGET BUT ALSOBECAUSE OF THE SOCIALDISTANCING, AND THE CITY MAYDIP INTO ITS RAINY DAY FUN BY34 MILLION-DOLLAR.AGAIN THAT IS ACCORDING TOPHILADELPHIA OFFICIALS WHO DIDNOT WANT TO BE NAMED.MAYOR JIM KENNEY'S EXPECT TORELEASE HIS NEW BUDGET