Court Opinion

ID: 9755813
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 20:51:49.287722+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:11.556457
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Mr. Chief Justice Bell:
The majority Opinion sustains a clear violation of the Home Bule Charter, which requires the Philadelphia City Council to prepare and submit to the Mayor an annual operating budget which is balanced for the fiscal year in question.
An annual operating budget cannot, even by a Procrustean stretch, mean an 18-month budget. It is obvious that Council balanced the present 18-month budget by changing the calendar fiscal 12-month year into a fiscal 18-month year.
Even the majority Opinion admits that “no matter which method [which it advocates] is used to effectuate the transition [from an annual fiscal balanced budget], it would no doubt violate certain aspects of the Charter.” Yet, in the plainest disregard of its own admissions, the Majority declare that a clear and undoubted violation of the City Charter is valid.
For these reasons, I dissent.