Tax relief for Philly – wanna bet?

State officials may stop Philadelphians from enjoying tax reductions thanks to casinos elsewhere in the state. Governor Rendell is not backing off his statements to block Philadelphia’s share of state casino revenue, despite Mayor Nutter’s efforts to move forward with city slots parlors. The city’s doing all it can to get two casinos operating, but it’s up to casino operators to get the doors open.

State officials may stop Philadelphians from enjoying tax reductions thanks to casinos elsewhere in the state. Governor Rendell is not backing off his statements to block Philadelphia’s share of state casino revenue, despite Mayor Nutter’s efforts to move forward with city slots parlors.

Listen:
[audio: reports20090414casino.mp3]

The city’s doing all it can to get two casinos operating, but it’s up to casino operators to get the doors open. That’s the message Mayor Nutter’s sending to citizens and state officials.

He says the equipment and excavation at the Sugarhouse site in Fishtown are proof of progress.

Nutter: They’re preparing the site for construction, they have their foundation permit, I mean there’s really nothing else that we as a city government can do. I mean we’re not building them we just grant the permits. In the Foxwoods case, they’re moving into an existing building which is in whatever condition that it is. So we’re doing everything that we can.

Casino opponents have criticized the mayor and other local officials for supporting the construction despite concerns about crime and traffic.

Philadelphia already receives 85-million-dollars a year in wage tax reductions thanks to casinos elsewhere in the state.