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Thursday, May 13, 2010

Councilman Suggests a Higher Property Tax Bump, Soda Lobby May Offer Cash To City

A Council hearing on the tax proposals to balance the budget has kicked off and Councilman Frank DiCicco seems to be making a play to revive his proposal to hike the property tax by 12 percent.

DiCicco previously introduced legislation for such a hike – which would raise $107 annually – but pulled it two weeks ago, citing lack of Council support. Instead Council is now considering a property tax hike at around 9.9 percent.

But today, DiCicco questioned Finance Director Rob Dubow on whether the city would get closer to solving the budget gap with a 12 percent hike.

DiCicco said that a single 12 percent hike would basically take care of the city's budget problems, and would replace the need for a series of smaller taxes. "It's the responsible thing to do," he said.

In addition, DiCicco said an offer was brewing from members of the soda industry to provide $10 million over two years to the city for health and wellness programs. He said those funds -- which would be provided if the proposed soda tax goes away -- could also help bridge the gap.

Edward J. Hazzouri, a lobbyist for the American Beverage Association, said members of the beverage association were considering providing funds through the Pew Charitable Trusts to fund various health efforts.

Nutter originally proposed a local soda tax of 2 cents per ounce, but recently has proposed the tax at 1/2 cent per ounce or 3/4 cent per ounce. He has argued that the tax would provide health benefits and revenue for the city.

Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 1:59 PM Permalink | 11 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:19 PM, 05/13/2010

Looks like the taxpayers of Philadelphia need better lobbyists

— ohboy

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:28 PM, 05/13/2010

ohboy: WELL SAID!! Has anyone heard the commercials being aired on radio spots against this tax, calling for this tax absurd, and calling for the city to instead cut spending? The commercials are paid for by the soda workers union... Isn't that ironic - these unions are the reason why Philadelphia, and all other union-based municipalities are bankrupt!! Maybe we should get rid of the unions, and their hefty guaranteed pensions?

— USAFirst1

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:46 PM, 05/13/2010

increase the city workers pension contributions 12%

— dreinterests

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:00 PM, 05/13/2010

How about looking at no bid contracts and ghost employees? How about the pay scale of upper management? How the heck does anybody who works for the city make more than the mayor? Our building height were once capped, how about city govt workers getting a pay cap too?

— FishtownYo

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:22 PM, 05/13/2010

What about all those rich folks with the 10-year tax abatement? Oh they get to avoid this property tax increase while those who already are getting whacked because of the corrupt BRT have to pay even more. The city is corrupt. DiCicco and Nutter are corrupt and the only people get stuck with this bill are the middle class who actually pay their property taxes.

— ResponsibleAmerican

11 comments

About The Philly Clout Team

Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com

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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.

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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.

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