Possible Ballot Question for Council to Have Its Own Budget Office
Council proposes to create its own Budget Office, with significant powers. A bill has been introduced in Council that would put approval on the ballot for Philadelphia voters.
Here is the proposed change to the charter:
Title
Proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter so that there shall be established in the Legislative Branch of the City of Philadelphia Government the Legislative Budget Office by the addition of a new Section 2-105 to ARTICLE II LEGISLATIVE BRANCH - The Council - Its Election, Organization, Powers and Duties, CHAPTER 1 THE COUNCIL; renumbering current Sections 2-105 and 2-106; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Philadelphia City Council will better perform its budgetary responsibilities with an appropriate support office with the authority to access information and primary records of instrumentalities using Philadelphia City public money on the same basis as the heads of those instrumentalities, and provide professional, non-partisan review, analysis, and recommendations to City Council in support of its budget process;
WHEREAS, Under Section 6 of the First Class City Home Rule Act (53 P.S. §13106), an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter may be proposed by a resolution of the Council of the City of Philadelphia adopted with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected members; now, therefore,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,
That the following amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter is hereby proposed and shall be submitted to the electors of the City on an election date designated by ordinance:
ARTICLE II
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Council - Its Election, Organization, Powers and Duties
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§ 2-105. Establishment of Legislative Budget Office.
[§ 2-105.] § 2-106. Employment of Counsel.
In the event the Law Department declines to advise or render legal services to the Council in any matter and whenever the Council is conducting an investigation relating to the executive and administrative branch of the City government, the Council may employ and fix the compensation of counsel of its own selection to handle such matter or to assist in conducting such investigation. In all other cases it shall obtain legal advice and services exclusively from the Law Department.
[§ 2-106.] § 2-107. Certain Provisions Relating to the Executive and Administrative Branch to Apply Also to the Council.
The provisions of this charter on procurement of personal property, printing, engraving and publications, contracting for public utility services, maintenance of automobiles, disposing of personal property, distribution of printed matter, and the creation, maintenance, retention and disposition of records, shall apply to the Council, but the Council alone shall determine which of its records are not needful or useful in the transaction of its current or anticipated work.
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Explanation:
[Brackets] indicate language deleted.
Italics indicate new language added.
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