Pennsylvania budget could hit Philadelphia hard

COULD GOV. Corbett's budget lead to service cuts or tax hikes here in Philly to keep the city in the black? It's too soon to tell, Mayor Nutter said yesterday.

But he did say that Corbett's $27.3 billion budget, with plans to slash money for schools, some social services and higher education, would undoubtedly hit the city hard.

"Is the public really prepared to accept this kind of pain and sacrifice?" Nutter asked yesterday, after attending Corbett's budget address in Harrisburg.

Nutter, who last week introduced a $3.46 billion budget free of tax hikes or major spending cuts, said it would take weeks to analyze Corbett's proposals and to figure out if he must adjust his own budget.

"It's still too early to try and predict something like that," Nutter said. "We will do our analysis of the budget as it relates to the city. We will have to come to whatever conclusions we come to."

City Council has not yet scheduled hearings on the mayor's budget.

As expected, the school district, which already faces a budget gap of upward of $400 million, would take a substantial hit under Corbett's budget, which cuts spending for basic education and preschool.

Nutter also noted that the budget eliminates the Accountability Block Grant Program, which Philly uses to help pay for full-day kindergarten.

Another big cut is set for higher education around the state, including to Temple University, which receives state funding. Nutter stressed that with 30 percent of the city's employment tied up in universities and hospitals, this could have a devastating impact on jobs.

"Those institutions represent a stabilizing force in the city and region," Nutter said.

Further cuts were outlined for a variety of public health-and-welfare programs, although it will take time to understand just how they affect Philadelphia.