Is Philadelphia’s City Council too big? Maybe, says one local political watchdog group.
The Committee of 70 is questioning whether the city should continue to spend $17 million on the 17-member panel while trimming budgets for essential services and closing libraries.
The council’s budget has grown from $10.7 million in 2000.
Committee of 70 president Zack Stahlberg says council, in its current form, was designed in the 1950s when the city’s population was 25-30 percent larger.
He believes with the population shrinking, the city should review if the council’s current size is necessary.
Hear Stahlberg and the Committee of 70’s other concerns about the current size of the council:
Council President Anna Vernon said council had not received any information on the issue from the Committee of 70. She declined to comment until information was received.
