Posted on Mon, Feb. 2, 2009, Metro Philadelphia

Partnerships could be way of future as budget shrinks City services look for cash

by Solomon D. Leach

With the Mummers Parade on the verge of being canceled due to the city's budget crisis, two local politicians helped make up the difference. Likewise, when the city could not foot the bill for the fireworks, private donations saved the day.

Now in mid-March, Mayor Michael Nutter will present what figure to be painful service cuts and possible tax hikes for the future, but can private partners chip in to salvage other areas?

"This is an opportunity now to bring everyone together to think about how to diversify funding," said Lauren Bornfriend, head of the Philadelphia Parks Alliance, an advocacy group for Fairmount Park, which lost an increase in funding due to budget cuts.

Since park funding has long been an issue, the Fairmount Park Commission has used partnerships with groups like the Horticultural Society to pay for key upgrades.

New partners could provide money for additional staff or a myriad of other improvements, Bornfriend said.

"One could only imagine what it would be like with even a small influx of money," she said.

The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation has already donated money to keep three city ice rinks open, but the Department of Recreation still needs money to operate pools. Sixty-eight of 81 public pools will be closed this year.

"There are some talks and some folks reached out," said Alain Joinville, the department's public affairs coordinator, "but there’s nothing set in stone."

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The Nutter administration said last week it is holding off on discussions with private groups to re-use any city libraries.

That came on the heels of the administration's announcement that it would keep all 54 libraries open until June, adding that their fate beyond then is uncertain. A judge blocked Nutter's attempt to close 11 libraries, but no ruling has been issued on the city's appeal.

"Our commitment is to provide city services in the best way we possibly can," said Doug Oliver, Nutter's press secretary, adding that the partnerships are an option if the city cannot fund the libraries in 2010.

"If down the line, we have reason to revisit that course of action, we will," he said.