Council moves toward property tax hike

    “Last time we were hoping to find other options and that’s why we rejected the real estate tax idea, I believe there are less options this time.”

    A Philadelphia City Councilman will officially announce his plan to raise the real estate tax Thursday. Several  Council members are now embracing a tax hike they rejected a year ago. [audio: 100324TMTAX.mp3]

    Councilman Frank DiCicco’s plan would be to raise the real estate tax by 12 percent and scratch Mayor Nutter’s proposed trash collection fee.  He says its fairer than a flat trash fee and is tax deductable in some cases.

    DiCicco: “I think reality has set in we are in worse shape this year than we were last year.  To do a trash fee is to do a tax.”

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

     Councilman Bill Greenlee is one of those councilmembers listening to DiCicco.  He says the options to balance the budget are few.

     Greenlee: “we’re not going to the state this time.  Last time we were hoping to find other options and that’s why we rejected the real estate tax idea, I believe there are less options this time.”

     Councilman Frank Rizzo is against any tax or revenue enhancement.

     Rizzo: “I want to see a lot more done to run this place a lot better and I think the mayor is going to make some proposals.”

    Council is expected to enact a tax and spending package by the end of May.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal