Nutter vows keeping city services intact, with tax increases

A steady stream of details is leaking out about Mayor Nutter’s budget. Thursday, he presents his budget address to City Council. Today, outside a Recreation Center at 17th and Fitzwater Streets, the mayor said he’ll propose a tax hike to avoid cutting programs for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

A steady stream of details is leaking out about Mayor Nutter’s budget. Thursday, he presents his budget address to City Council. Today, outside a Recreation Center at 17th and Fitzwater Streets, the mayor said he’ll propose a tax hike to avoid cutting programs for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Transcript:
Mayor Nutter says the public doesn’t want services cut for children, low income residents, and the homeless.

To do that while closing a budget gap, he’s proposing a short term but significant property tax hike. Nutter also is calling for a 1 percent sales tax increase that will expire after three years and bring in $340 million.

Nutter: “No one likes proposing to raise taxes.  There’s been no greater champion of tax reduction in this city in the last decade than me.  And so you know it is not exactly the most comfortable position to find myself.  On the other hand, a billion dollar 5-year deficit – the second one that we’ve faced in less than 4 months – is all that much more uncomfortable and the alternatives are worse.”

Nutter says his proposed budget will keep libraries, community health centers, and recreation facilities open.

Listen:
Click on the play button below or right click on this link and choose “Save Link As” to download. [audio: reports20090318budgetprev.mp3]