DiCicco Introduces Property Tax Hike Bill
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DiCicco Introduces Property Tax Hike Bill
Catherine Lucey
As expected, Councilman Frank DiCicco today introduced legislation that would increase the city property tax rate to raise revenues -- a move many council members seem to prefer over Mayor Nutter's proposed flat-rate trash collection fee.
Nutter has proposed a $300 per household trash fee and a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to plug a projected $150 million hold in the budget. Council has raised concerns about both measures, questioning the impact the taxes would have on the city's poorest residents. Nutter has said he is prepared to listen to alternate ideas.
Under DiCicco's proposal, the property tax rate would increase by 12 percent, with all the additional proceeds coming to the city. DiCicco said the hike would raise $107 million, the same amount Nutter's trash fee would collect. DiCicco said the bill is written to last only five years, and could be revised if the city needs less revenue than expected.
"I believe it is much better than the trash fee," said DiCicco of the property tax proposal, noting that residents could write off a tax hike and many low income residents and seniors would qualify for a rebate.
Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. said he thought a property tax hike was a better idea than a trash fee, although he stressed that budget neogtiations are still ongoing.
"To whatever extent we're going to increase revenues, this is a better option," Goode said. "I think the trash fee is pretty much dead. I think the soda tax, if not dead, is in trouble."
Comment removed.
Poor people make out very well because they don't pay taxes but use the majority of services. So why does everyone always say that raising taxes will hurt the poor?— BLKMD- Once again, the concern is for the impact that a tax increase would have on the city's poorest residents(many of whom already pay less than their fair share), with no visible concern about the impact on the rest of city residents who have to pay for this. By now, I am sure Mayor Nutter and City Council have heard every conceivable alternative, and refuse to act on any of them. Time for new leadership, not more taxes.— dee99999
- i will not pay a higher property tax. my neighborhood--eastwick--has paid a higher tax than most of the city. let's get EVERYONE in this city to pay the property tax that's fair.— banana
the property tax increase is going to exceed the trash tax fee of more than 300 dollars,,what a sly move council is doing to us...we all need to vote those morons out come election time— hardball- Comment removed.
- Where can we make these suggestions? I have one: Eliminate the perks enjoyed by the city council and mayor that WE PAY FOR: City Cars, with gas and insurance, inflated salaries and staffs. Once they are man and woman enough to discipline themselves, then take more from the average taxpayer if it's still necessary. At this point, I think we must take note of the vote and vote out every council person who votes for any tax hike.— Jame
- Do all you guys live in the city? I wish you were because I feel like this city lacks a unified voice amongst its property owners, or at least amongst those who legitimately see this as a sh*t idea. This city needs term limits on city council, plane and simple. Otherwise these bums will never have incentive to make the tough decisions that they know is right.— PhillyKid126
- Comment removed.
- (reenactment of what was overheard at a city council meeting with the mayor a few months ago) Hey we need raise property taxes to help pay for all this out of control spending. Why don't we come up with some outrageous tax (soda & trash) that will get the people all worked up? Then soon after we hit them with the property tax hike. The people will be so relieved we didn't enact that soda and trash tax that they will accept any alternative.— superturtle
- Why did I vote for you Frank oh yeah cause your italian. Now nexxt time you run i am going to do something I thought i will never do. VOTE AGAINST YOU.— I M Jim
- This would obviously violate the PA STATE CONSTITUTION. Here's a hint, instead of raising property taxes how about you assesses legitimate values.— JoeinSouthPhilly
- This would obviously violate the PA STATE CONSTITUTION. Here's a hint, instead of raising property taxes how about you assesses legitimate values.— JoeinSouthPhilly
- Comment removed.
- Maybe DiCicco can raise money by having a auction for his hair pirce.— ALJ
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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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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. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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