Members of City Council were quick to point out last Wednesday that Mayor Nutter has the power to cut the city budget without their approval.
That is true.
But what they didn’t point out is that Council can mandate that the city provide certain services. And that decision constrains the Mayor’s budget authority.
A few years ago Mayor Street announced that the city could not afford to pick up trash from condos and would stop doing so. He claimed that under his budget authority he could cut back this service.
City Council passed an ordinance requiring the city to pick up trash at Condos. Here my memory gets a little hazy. But I believe the Mayor said he would ignore it, Council sued, and won.
Trash pickup at condos continues to this day.
So if Council wants to mandate that the Free Library have branches at, say 54 particular locations around the city, it can pass an ordinance saying so. And then the Mayor will not be able to close those branches.
And, while they are at it, maybe Council should also pass an ordinance prohibiting the police department from guiding traffic around the Linc on game days, until the Eagles pay the $8 million they owe.