Title
Authorizing and directing the use of the Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund positive fund balance to increase an appropriation for the Fire Department for the undisputed $66,000,000 of the Fire Fighters' Contract.
Body
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Fire Fighters have been without a current contract since 2009; and
WHEREAS, This matter has been adjudicated twice in binding arbitration, appealed to Common Pleas Court and decided by the Judge, and further appealed by the Nutter Administration to the Commonwealth Court; and
WHEREAS, The Fire Fighters assert that the cost of the award shall be $66,000,000; while the Nutter Administration contends that the cost of the award shall be over $200,000,000; and
WHEREAS, The non-disputed amount of the Fire Fighters' contract should be paid immediately to the men and women who risk their lives for the safety of the citizens of Philadelphia despite having no contract for more than three years; and
WHEREAS, The most recent (Second Quarter) City Manager's Report projects that the General Fund will end Fiscal Year 2013 with a positive fund balance of $114,156,000, an amount more than sufficient to appropriate for the purpose of satisfying the non-disputed amount of the Fire Fighters' contract under the latest Arbitration Award; and
WHEREAS, The contract that is currently being disputed is set to expire in July 2013; and
WHEREAS, It is financially irresponsible for the Administration to withhold funds that must be paid and not set aside this money while continuing to spend and not to pay the Fire Fighters from the FY 2013 General Fund positive fund balance the non-disputed amount of the contract that has gone through two arbitration proceedings; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. The Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to use the Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund positive fund balance to increase the appropriation for the Fire Department by ...
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