It's Our City is a project that uses TV, Radio and Web
to promote civic engagement in the Philadelphia region.Philadelphia’s proposed 2011-2012 budget
Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 5:05 pm - by Alan Tu. Filed under: Budget.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is calling for two new taxes to prevent city services from being cut. The mayor presented his budget outline to city council this morning. (3/4/10) In it, he’s asking council to approve a two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks and a $300 yearly trash fee that combined would to raise about $185 million dollars annually. Nutter emphasized during his budget address that there will be no layoffs for police and fire, and that all of the city’s libraries, rec centers and pools will be open in the new budget year.
Click on the image to watch the full budget address 52 mins
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We’d love to know what you think of the soda tax and trash fee.
Is the tax on sugary drink too regressive?
Should citizens pay more for trash pick up?
Should we just reduce city services every time tax revenues decline?
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March 4th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
The City very recently received one of, if not the highest, local sales tax in the nation. I think the administration should reduce pensions, cancel perks like “drop/add” and examine patronage practices before entertaining making soft drinks rediculously expensive while claiming that it will fight obesity?? Also, before taxing a service, like trash collection, which is suppose to be paid for from our real estate taxes, get off the dime and fix the tax assessment and collection methods, NOW, so that we don’t end up with both the new fee and higher taxes, as is usually the case with the administration’s quick fixes. Continued tax increases on home owners will further erode the tax base of Philadelphia by driving responsible citizens into more tax friendly States such as Delaware or the suburbs where you receive a first class education for your tax dollar.
March 4th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
The tax on sugary drinks is definitely regressive - fast food is generally less expensive and in some areas of the city, there are very limited choices as far as grocery stores go. The soda tax will definitely hit those with fewer choices hardest. Also, the mayor keeps saying that Philadelphia can’t cut services any more…okay, how about non-services: pensions and perks for city government officials, and who knows what else? We know that spending has increased over the last several years - granted, much of it on John Street’s incompetent watch - certainly there are cuts that can be made in non-service areas. And yes, definitely overhaul and streamline tax assessment and collections, and what about the Parking Authority and other entities? Finally, how many new, luxury condominium high-rises have gone up … and yet the City still insists on solving the budget crisis on the backs of the poor and working- and middle-class citizens?? As Joe D. pointed out, people will leave the city; it’s happened before: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
March 7th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Trash pick up and sugery tax hike is not the answer for the proposed budget.Lot of citizens will suffer with this tax hike and i am one of them.i simply can not afford the trash pick up fee.Its not fair for the poor citizens like me.The mayor has to find a different way to balance the budget,insteard of going after poor citizens.
thanks.pat
June 8th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist
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