Group Number 12
Moderators: Lisa Santer, Gwynne Smith Scheffer
Total points: 95

Group Description:
Our group was composed of 18 participants that appeared to include four males (one African American, three White) and 14 females (six White, eight African American). The neighborhoods identified by participants represented in the group include West Philadelphia, Francisville/North, Carroll Park, Southwest, and Wynnefield. The group appeared to be about half of the people 40+ years (one senior), approximately one-eighth under 30, the remaining 30-40 years. Two participants (both African American) reported that they work for the City, one participant (white female) reported that she works for one of the unions. Two activists were in the group. We had one City representative assigned to our group and four City representation floaters visited our group at various times throughout the evening.

Group 12 was very energetic, vocal, yet focused with an attitude of getting to the task. After reviewing the Citizen Worksheet, a group member raised a question wanting to know the number of appointed positions in each department and how many consultants. The City representative shared that less than 5% of employees are exempt. The next concern that surfaced from a young woman was the items not listed on the grid. She was referencing a flyer from the Coalition for Essential Services, as the point values on these flyers were not included on the Citizens Worksheet. A union member gave her support for this flyer and in addition referenced a flyer about PILOT. There was specific reference to the flyer by one participant regarding “people who don’t pay taxes.” One participant remarked that she “goes down and pays her taxes so should everybody.” We agreed that we would include the action items outlined in the flyer in the notes just as we have done with other groups who introduced the same material in prior workshops. A look of confusion shown on the faces of some group members and there was some rumbling on the part of others about whether it would really add much by adding this information in the notes. The City representative assured the participants that the information would be heard not only through the website posting of the notes but that she was there to bring back all of the information she heard as well to the Mayor. Some members suggested that the group focus on the revenue options first. After providing the entire group an opportunity to review the grid to get familiar with the services and to identify LHF (Low Hanging Fruit), and NWNH (No Ways, No Hows), they decided that this was a good place to start. Approximately 5 minutes into the process, one white male left the group without a word. The African American male who had been talking with the person next to him and voting left the group after the first hour. The group was very respectful of differences in views and did a great job allowing each group member time on the floor to share thoughts on the topic up for discussion.

One person turned in a “dissenting” worksheet. She chose not to participate in the group activity as she felt it was a waste of time and fruitless exercise.

Low-Hanging Fruit
Total points: 38
• 20. Eagles - 4 point
o There was no discussion here
o Vote: 94% (16 of 17)

• 21. Parking - 2 points
o We would discourage driving; encourage the use of public transportation.
o “It’s a small amount”
o Vote: 75% (13 of 17)

• 12a. Prisons (conditional) - 10 points
o The main concern was what happens to prisoners once released if you close a prison.
o There are too many in prisons, releasing them without a plan might increase costs in other service areas once released. We “need to have a plan in place” with alternatives or other costs might rise.
o There is duplication of services related to job training and re-entry.
o We need strong criteria to identify those for release and plan for re-entry services.
o One group member offered that a “big part of the budget is correction officers” Another stated we “don’t need to lose jobs now.”
o Eliminate duplication of services provided by City and private programs - “there are private programs that provide services” so these could be used to provide training and re-entry services
o However, there was concern that alternate private and federal providers are also having budget problems
o Many private sector organizations provide services and get tax incentives
o “There are no jobs for them to go to once they are let out…we’re losing jobs,” so job training would not make sense in this economy.
o First Vote: 47% (8 of 17)
o Conditions: with alternative to incarceration re-entry and training preserved
o Second Vote: 100% (17 0f 17 with conditions)

• 3. Drop Program (limited) - unknown amount less than 4 points
o Eliminate for elected and exempt “they should not be participants in this program.” They are the ones who can go out & come back in.
o The City representative remarked that she was unsure if these were up-to-date figures (may be ‘02)
o First Vote, for all employees: 35% (6 of 17)
o Second Vote, limiting to elected and exempt employees: 88% (15 of 17)

• 17. Amusement - 2 points
o This was raised and there was no discussion other than clarification that it would raise the costs and it was worth 2 points.
o Vote: 75% (13 of 17)

• 24. Sales Tax - 6 points
o A group member stated that this is a “regressive tax.” More taxes hurt poor people.
o Vote: 71% (12 of 17)

• 16. Fleet Vehicles (conditional) - 6 points
o There was concern voiced by a group member that this will cut 29 working class jobs.
o Social workers should not lose cars.
o One suggestion is to increase the use of Philly Car Share.
o One member commented that these are many points; it is “two times the library cuts.”
o Direct, essential service vehicles should not be touched.
o Condition: no direct service vehicles, e.g., DHS
o Vote: 76% (13 of 17)

• 15b. Streets - Commercial Collections - 2 points
o Businesses can pay
o Vote: 82% (14 of 17)

• 18. BPT - 2 points
o Vote: 100% (17 of 17)

• 15c. Streets - Sanitation Service Fee - 13 points
o One group member who is new to the city brought up the point that residents in other cities pay these fees and it is not a large amount. One member surfaced that it has not been tried in any large cities, and it has been “disastrous” in some medium-sized cities.
o There were concerns that a fee might increase illegal dumping on lots.
o Some saw this as a “regressive tax” and that an increase in real estate tax is on the list - 22. Real Estate
o Families are struggling to feed their families now so “if I have to choose between feeding my family and paying for trash, I’m feeding my family.”
o One suggestion is to have a grant program similar to those of the utility companies to assist low-income families with the fee.
o We asked for a vote but the group could not come to consensus so there was no vote.

• 15a. Streets - Service cut
o One concern is street cleaning is already ineffective, that “the streets are already dirty now” and that the streets would become dirtier especially in poor neighborhoods.
o There was no vote.

• Collect Delinquent Taxes (from the Coalition of Essential Services flyer)
o The group wanted to add this item as a low hanging fruit. One group member surfaced that 1. Administrative includes a reduction of Revenue staff and it was the sentiment of a few group members that we need Revenue staff to collect those back taxes. A group member brought up a reduction in the law department 9. Law would have a large effect on collecting taxes.

No Ways, No Hows
Total points: 88

• 13. Public Health - 7 points
o Vote: 100% (17 of 17)

• 6. Library - 3 points
o One suggestion is library self-funding through books sales similar to a program in NY. Another participant offered that this is working in Durham, NC.
o Vote: 82% (14 of 17)

• 14. Recreation - 5 points
o Already cut a lot
o Recreation provides facilities for communities. Without facilities, crime goes up and property values go down.
o Charge suburbanites who send their children to the free camps in Philadelphia
o Vote: 88% (15 of 17)

• Fairmount Park - 2 points
o They have already been cut and should not be touched
o The parks should remain untouched for the same reason as 14. Recreation.
o Vote: 94% (16 of 17)

• 8. Human Services - 19 points
o Already cut - “no more headlines about dead kids”
o Human Services funding leverages money from the city.
o Vote: 100% (17 of 17)

• 11b. Police - 52 points
o Might support strategic cuts
o Vote: 71% (12 of 17)

Shared Pain
Total points: 57
• 11a. Police - 26 points
o The question asked by a group member was “what are special units?”
o Specialization has potential for duplication and therefore could have cuts.
o Proposal is to move toward generalized walking beat.
o The group wanted Leave vacancies unfilled, evaluate duplicative roles and cut there
o Vote: 75% (12 of 16) (we only had 16 participants at this point)

• 5a. Fire 10% cut - 10 points
o Philadelphia has more firehouses than most its size.
o One group member remarked that we have many brick structures. Another group member remarked that the construction process used between 1920 to 1960 is one that promotes air circulation from the basement to the roof and that fire will travel quickly floor to floor…”goes up fast.”
o The suggestion “no cut in EMT services” prompted the question “Why do trucks go out with ambulances” Group felt this was a duplication of services and that the City needs to look carefully for cuts here.
o There were already cuts but no houses closed according to the City representative. There was a decrease in overtime.
o One member requested no cuts in that the Fire Department because they have signed onto the agreement that “all essential services are essential”, and therefore she did not want to cut them out of the group by saying they could have a 10% cut but others in that group could not. Another remarked, “they’re trying to save their own jobs.”
o “Painful cut but it is better than Human Services…”
o “We’re an older city with older buildings”
o Vote: 56% (9 of 16)

• 25. Wage/Resident - 12 points
o One group member compared it to buying a cup of coffee a week or every two weeks depending on where you buy your coffee.
o One response from a participant was this could “drive out business.” Another was “we need to find points.”
o Vote: 88% (14 of 16)

• 26. Wage/Commuter - 5 points
o “Commuters get it too”
o Vote: 81% (13 of 16)

• 23a. Real Estate Transfer - 2 points
o We’re looking for ways to make money, not cut services.
o Was the dispute about a tax driving out businesses around this tax or something else?
o Vote: 94% (15 of 16)

Gut Wrenchers
Total points: 0
• Never made it this far

Big, Hairy, Ambitious Goals
• Never made it this far

Memorable Quotes/Other Ideas/Suggestions
• There was a question from one of the participants wanting to know the number of appointed positions in each department and how many consultants.
o City representative later indicated that less than 5% of employees are exempt

• Suggestions:
o Tax Abatement - Base it on a sliding scale & make it for less than 10 years.
o New Position - Eliminate any new position added by Mayor

• While there was no group discussion of the individual points, some Group 12 participants wanted to include the outside flyer recommendations which surfaced at the onset of the small group activity:
o Collect 50% of $1,000,000,000 bail money owed to the city
o Collect $38,000,000 a year with PILOT program
o End the 10-year local property tax abatement
o Collect 50% of $400,000,000 in uncollected taxes
o Close corporate loopholes in state taxes and create revenue sharing stream for stressed PA cities
o Roll back Wage Tax to 2004 level to half a percentage point higher than current set: 3.9% to 4.5% - While also exempting low wage families such as: a family of four making $35,000 a year or less
o Roll back Gross Receipts Tax to 2003 level from: .0014 to .0023 - While exempting businesses with gross sales less than $500,000 a year
o Convert Wage Tax to an Income Tax
o End exemptions from the Business Privilege Tax for financial institutions and port-related businesses
o Amend state constitution to allow progressive taxation
o Use bailout money to refinance city’s pension fund