Council OKs Philly budget with tax hike for schools

Philadelphia City Council passed a budget and raised property taxes by 3.8 percent Thursday before going on its summer recess.

While the budget passed, council members heard form some residents about the tax increase for the school district.

Sharon Navilla Bay was the first to speak against the tax increase.

“I want to say no bailout on my back,” she said. “Do you plan to tax ordinary residents and take their homes away from them when they fail to pay the taxes?”

Rolanda King also spoke out about the tax hike.

“I work for the Philadelphia School District and I see the waste, the utterly disrespectful waste, and I’m supposed to be OK with them hiking up my taxes?” she said. “I’m saying to you, please rethink that.”

While council members approved the city budget unanimously, the property tax hike vote was 11 to six.