Philadelphia budget remains in limbo

Philadelphia’s budget is still in limbo as members of city council try to find common ground. 

Members of council are arguing over how much money to give the school district and how to overhaul property taxes to reflect current market values.  

Republican Dennis O’Brien who was a State Representative says Pennsylvania has failed the city.

“The place where I came from cut $200 million out of our school district budget and now we are putting $100 million back in,” said O’Brien. “I’ve never been part of conversation in Harrisburg and  I think this is creating a dangerous precedent for every dollar we put in they take two away, that doesn’t work for me.”

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Council President Darrell Clarke says one way or another Philadelphia will have to bring in more tax money.

“It was always understood there had to be additional revenue on the table,” said Clarke.  “The mayor’s characterization of this is it’s a growth in real estate that may be true but at the end of the day an individual getting an increase in their tax bill to them it’s a tax increase.”

The new budget is supposed to be in place by the end of the month.

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