Changes Begin at 12:01 AM TonightrnrnAugust 28, 2009 –Starting August 29th, the 3-1-1 call center will change its hours of operation from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to 8am-8pm on weekdays, 9am-5pm on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. This reduction, which will save the City $230,000 annually, is part of $20 million in cuts the City was forced to make because the State has not yet passed HB 1828, legislation authorizing a temporary 1% increase in the sales tax and re-amortizing the City’s pension obligations.rnrnWhen the City passed its budget earlier this spring, it included $10 million a month in additional revenue from the temporary sales tax increase, starting August 1. Due to the delay in Harrisburg and the time it takes to implement once approval has been granted, Philadelphia will not receive the additional sales tax revenue for the months of August and September – a delay that will cost the City almost $20 million.rnrnThe City will also take the following measures to solve this latest $20 million budget deficit, caused by delay in Harrisburg:rnrnThe cadet class for the Police Department, scheduled to begin this fall, will be delayed, saving the $3.2 million this fiscal year.rnThe Mayor’s Office will eliminate six full-time positions, saving $500,000 annually.rnThe Office of Fleet Management will stop purchase on all City vehicles other than replacement police cars. This ban includes snow removal equipment, sanitation vehicles and road repair equipment, saving $4.8 million in FY10.rnThe Department of Finance will eliminate six full-time positions and reduce supplies, equipment and contracts, saving $1.3 million annually.rnThe Commerce Department will eliminate three full-time positions, saving $233,000 annually.rnThe Planning Commission will eliminate six full-time positions, saving $341,000 annually.rnThe Law department will reduce contract spending for outside legal counsel, saving $1.3 million annually.rnThe Department of Public Property will reduce maintenance contracts, saving $2.5 million annually.rnThe Department of Licenses and Inspections will reduce contracts and supplies, saving $140,000 annually.rnThe City Representative will eliminate three vacant positions and reduce contracts, saving $287,000 annually.rnThe Streets Department will reduce garbage disposal contracts, saving $3 million annually, and will curtail street tree trimming and maintenance contracts, saving $1 million annually.rnThe City will eliminate its final $1.5 million payment to the Housing Trust Fund.