So if reading my live blog from earlier this evening just wasn’t enough and you want to see how some of the most powerful officials in state government are tackling the issues outlined in the Economy League’s budget primer, tune to WHYY-TV on Sunday, May 3 at 6 p.m.  That’s when we’re airing the program [...]

By Dan Pohlig
(Live blog) Is there a governmental body that isn’t experiencing “tight times” these days?  Heck, is there a household or corporation that hasn’t had to cut back?
Everywhere you turn, there’s more news about layoffs, program cuts, loss of funding, unemployment, bankruptcy and just pure budgetary chaos.  The government of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania [...]

The Philadelphia Wage Tax cannot be raised to help solve next year’s huge budget gap. The City Council was hinting that it might raise the tax as a way to generate extra money. But the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Heard in the Hall blog reports that the City’s Finance Director Rob Dubow informed Council that the city [...]

The City of Philadelphia has just enacted one of the most expansive cell phone bans in the nation. The bill signed into law by Mayor Michael Nutter this afternoon makes it illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving a car, riding a bike, and even coasting on a skateboard.
Hands-free cell phone use will still [...]

A Town Hall meeting titled “Tight Times, Tough Choices” will be taped tonight at WHYY that is designed to give Pennsylvania residents a better understanding of the State’s fiscal health.  Citizens will gather at WHYY to learn what options the Commonwealth is considering to reduce next year’s budget by $2.6 billion.  On February 4, Governor [...]

Atrios points out that the city’s parking meter rate increases in Center City and University City are going perfectly according to plan:
Parking is getting easier in Center City, apparently because of higher parking meter rates enacted in January, according to the most recent “meter occupancy rate” survey by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
A year ago, 97 [...]

Philadelphia’s “Green Guru” Mark Alan Hughes says it’s little steps like getting city departments to know how much their electricity bill is that can make the Greenworks plan work.  Yesterday, the City released an ambitious plan to make Philadelphia the most environmentally-friendly city in the nation by 2015. Hughes appeared on WHYY’s Radio Times this [...]

The Philadelphia City Solicitor says elected officials can participate in the controversial Deferred Retirement Option Program. Shelly Smith says the DROP does not distinguish between city workers and elected officials.  This means there is nothing legally wrong with Philadelphia City Council members enrolling in the retirement program.
Elected officials who are in DROP benefit more than [...]

by Jason Kleinman
Wouldn’t it be nice to walk through an urban oasis surrounded by open space, fresh farmer markets, and clean air?  According to Mayor Michael Nutter, this is exactly where our city is headed.  This morning, Nutter formally unveiled Greenworks Philadelphia, his plan to make Philadelphia “The greenest city in America” by 2015.
The plan [...]

In an effort to reach a compromise with Mayor Michael Nutter, the Philadelphia City Council has proposed an alternative tax plan that would eliminate the need for a property tax hike. City Council leaders issued a statement today explaining how their plan could work.
“We understand that the double-digit property tax increase proposed by the Administration [...]