Nutter to veto parking-tax cut?

MAYOR NUTTER today will likely veto a bill that would gradually lower the city's 20 percent parking tax, sources say.

Three weeks ago, City Council voted 12-5 to pass the bill, introduced by Councilman Jim Kenney with nay votes from Council members Bill Green, Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Brian O'Neill, Blondell Reynolds-Brown and Darrell Clarke.

The parking industry "has been carrying this 5-percent burden for at least three years," said Kenney, adding that the industry has been unfairly targeted. "They were singled out for a major tax increase."

In 2008 the city increased the rate from 15 to 20 percent. Kenney's plan would slowly reduce the rate to 17 percent starting in fiscal year 2014.

Nutter has said that the bill would cost the city millions and that he would prefer broad tax reductions to benefit all businesses instead of a single industry. Last month, Nutter advised Council not to approve the bill.

Council would need 12 votes to override a veto, and Kenney expects that his original supporters will be on board.

"People voted the way they voted," Kenney said. "I don't suspect anyone will change their mind. We'll see if it works out or not."