Mayor cautious but open to citizen-advised revenue raising ideas

Mayor Nutter says he’s considering citizen input, while he decides what cuts and tax increases to include in his upcoming budget address. More than 1,700 taxpayers attended four budget forums and shared their values as they brainstormed about how to close a roughly $200 million annual budget gap.

Mayor Nutter says he’s considering citizen input, while he decides what cuts and tax increases to include in his upcoming budget address. More than 1,700 taxpayers attended four budget forums and shared their values as they brainstormed about how to close a roughly $200 million annual budget gap. WHYY’s Elizabeth Fiedler has more.

Script:
Many forum participants said tax hikes might be okay, if it would prevent service cuts. Mayor Nutter says he was surprised by the willingness of resident to raise taxes — but he says the amusement tax would have to be raised an astronomical level to make much of a budget impact, and the parking tax was just raised. As for increasing other taxes, Mayor Nutter says he needs to weigh the short-term benefit with the potential long-term implications.

Nutter: “Real estate tax, wage tax, business taxes, I mean some in the short term may generate some additional dollars but I’m concerned that in the long-term they could either stifle business growth, could have a negative impact on vulnerable populations here in the city.”

Mayor Nutter delivers his budget proposal to City Council on March 19th.

Listen:
Click on the play button below or right click on this link and choose “Save Link As” to download. [audio: reports20090303mayor.mp3]