Bid to lower Philadelphia’s parking tax stuck in neutral

Philadelphia’s parking tax will not reduced for at least a year.

Operators of parking facilities in Philadelphia complain their taxes are worse than their counterparts in New York City. They want cut the 20 percent tax back to 15–the level it was in 2008. Robert Zuritsky, who heads the Philadelphia Parking Association, said replacement funding can be found by cracking down on unlicensed facilities.

“Our research shows you would collect millions more dollars, enough to balance out what you would lose by lowering the tax,” said Zuritsky.

Councilman Jim Kenney said he understands the problem, but the city budget can’t take the cut in revenue–especially with a looming school district budget deficit. So he proposed two amendments that could kick in beginning in the next fiscal year.

“One would start a half percent reduction in [20]13 that would be option one and the other option two would be starting a full one percent reduction in [20]14,” said Kenney.

Kenney wouldn’t guarantee either of the cuts would be approved.