Mayor seeks fiscal reprieve

Joe Smydo has more on the city budget today, with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl moving to get the city out of state oversight next year (right before his reelection run).

Unfortunately the Senate's Minority Leader -- Jay Costa of Forest Hills -- is not on board with the idea, even if Republican leaders are open to it. (Costa, by the way, is close to Rich Fitzgerald, who now denies he has hard feelings for the mayor.) From Joe's story:

Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, the House majority leader, is "open to that discussion" if the city's "finances are back in order," the caucus spokesman, Steve Miskin, said. Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, the Senate majority leader, also is willing to let the city make its case, his spokesman, Erik Arneson, said.

"I'm certain he doesn't have a set view one way or the other at this point," Mr. Arneson said.

Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, the Senate minority leader, "is in favor of keeping the oversight," his spokeswoman, Lisa Scullin, said.