Nutter creates panel to study city tax structure

It wasn't that long ago - 2003 - that the Tax Reform Commission published a years-in-the-works report with recommendations on how to improve Philadelphia's tax structure.

Well, Mayor Nutter wants another bite of that apple.

The mayor earlier today announced he was creating a Mayor's Task Force on Tax Policy and Economic Competitiveness, a 15-member task force whose members are yet to be named.

Nutter made the announcement at the Center City Marriott hotel, during a speech he delivered to the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. About 1,500 business leaders were there.

"Our lack of competitiveness is not just rooted in our tax rates, it's in our entire tax structure," he said in prepared remarks. The task force is charged with "putting together an action plan outlining exactly what steps we need to take to completely and totally overhaul our tax structure and make Philadelphia a less expensive city in which to do business. It's time for change, and change is coming very soon."

Created by executive order - Nutter signed the order on the spot - the task force will issue a report by mid-September.

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