Council is currently on a break following several hours of testimony on the tax proposals. A resolution on a city budget plan could still be a long time coming this evening.
But PhillyClout is hearing whispers that the mayor may have secured the needed nine votes for some version of the soda tax, possibly at 3/4 cent per ounce. We'll keep you posted as we learn more...
5:30 -- Council has started voting on some of the budget measures at the committee level. A majority approved a bill that would raise a trash fee on commercial properties from $150 to $300 annually. This should raise about $7 million next year. As with the other measures, this would need final approval next week.
5:32 -- Council just gave preliminary approval to a bill that would tax some tobacco products, including cigars, chewing tobacco and pipe tobacco. This would raise about $4 million annually. Again, a majority passed the bill out and it will need to get final approval next week.
5:37 -- Property tax is a go. Council at the committee level voted 10-7 in favor of a 9.9 percent property tax increase. The hike would raise about $88 million in revenue next year.
5:40 -- Verna just announced that the soda tax legislation would be held. So this isn't a done deal yet folks. They still have to work out the final budget.