We will also make important investments in public safety to continue our progress.

We will hire 400 new police officers in FY15 to maintain a sworn strength of 6,525 police officers in

Philadelphia. We will welcome new

classes of firefighters, paramedics, and

EMTs to the Philadelphia Fire Department.

And ...

We must stand together and urge the Commonwealth to step up, create a new funding formula and support Philadelphia students and children all across this state.

Last month I asked members of

the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of

Commerce to partner with all of us in the

fight for the future ...

But there are tax revenue issues related to funding public education that must be addressed, and I'll discuss those shortly.

And we still have a variety of other challenges in front of us. Our

total tax revenue in FY15 as compared to

FY14 is down about $41 million, which ...

I am quite sure

that Barbara, members of the City

Council, all elected officials, and all

public servants and thousands of our City

employees would agree, public service is

truly a calling, a vocation. Each of us answered that call and steadfastly serve our communities working together to shape the ...

Before we get started today, I also want to recognize the 2014 recipient of the Richardson Dilworth Award for Distinguished Public Service, Ms. Barbara Ash, a Law Department attorney in the Child Welfare Unit who works with an unparalleled sense of purpose and professionalism. She has been a tremendous advocate ...

Thank you, Mr. President.

Good morning, Mr. President and the City Council leadership, all the members of City Council, I understand at least from my notes, District Attorney Seth Williams, Sheriff Jewell Williams, Controller Alan Butkovitz. There may be at least one or more City Commissioners, possibly members of the ...