The new budget proposed by Mayor Jim Kenney demonstrates that the City of Philadelphia will function and provide basic services to residents despite dramatic revenue declines due to COVID-19. But it’s a budget that provides no front door to anyone from outside Philadelphia looking in.

What do I mean and why does it matter?

The most dramatic cuts — and I don’t mean in amounts because the amounts are relatively small; I mean in completely eliminating city functions — are in the Commerce Department (gutted by 85%), the Office of the City Representative (completely eliminated), and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (completely eliminated). These cuts total $13.7 million out of the $4.9 billion proposed 2020-2021 budget.

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