Budget Revenue/Cuts Talk Round Up

Lots of shots flying about the upcoming presentation from Mayor Michael Nutter of the proposed budget to City Council. Be there on Thursday morning at City Hall in the Chambers. Until then here are the notes and articles from our friends on the issue...

... Plus an editorial from the Inquirer I hope people turn around quick to call out - city workers work for us. If we can't expect the city to support its employees then any employer could get away with it. It smells like a setup for a long contract negotiation battle to me.

 
Nutter to indeed propose 2-year property tax hike
via Philadelphia Daily News by CATHERINE LUCEY on 3/17/09
Mayor Nutter yesterday confirmed that his budget plan will include a temporary two-year increase in the property tax.
Nutter said residents would see a 19 percent increase above current rates for the fiscal year that starts July 1, then rates would lower to 14.5 percent over current rates in the fiscal year that starts in July 2010.
 
Phila Mayor Confirms He Will Seek Higher Property & Sales Taxes
via Its Our City by Alan Tu on 3/16/09
The Philadelphia Daily News reports this afternoon that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will seek higher sales and property taxes to help balance next year' budget.  Both tax increases are included in a budget draft that has been given the city council. If approved, they would take effect this summer.
 
Mayor Nutter announces that public safety is safe
via The Clog by Daniel Schwartz on 3/16/09
Slightly after 2 this afternoon, Mayor Michael Nutter announced that almost none of his proposed budget cuts will slice into the city' police and fire department, which together account for more than 40 percent of the city' discretionary budget. Not a single police officer or firefighter or paramedic will be laid off, Nutter said, declaring that public safety has been, is, and will continue to be the number one priority of this city.”
 
Editorial: The Budget
via Inquirer Editorial on 3/15/09
Mayor Nutter plans to unveil his city budget this week, and already the municipal unions and some City Council members are digging in for a fight.
 
Philly Clout: Updated list of tax deadbeats
via Its Our Money by Ben Waxman on 3/13/09
Over the past few days, Mayor Nutter has been making a lot of noise about collecting delinquent taxes. He showed up outside the office of a lawyer who owed money to the city and today released another list of people that haven't paid up. It's not a complete list, but it does give you a sense of how many people owe taxes and the kind of businesses/people who refuse to pay their fair share.

Catherine Lucey posted the whole thing over at Philly Clout. Check it out, definitely an interesting read.
 
Mayor Nutter shrinks city's car fleet
via Its Our City by Alan Tu on 3/12/09
Mayor Michael Nutter announced today that he will shrink the city' car fleet which has nearly 6,000 vehicles by 243 in an effort to reduce spending. While the number may not sound like a lot, Nutter says this would save the city $1.5 million a year in maintenance and fuel costs. If you’re trying to do the math, using these numbers the city spends $6,200 per car, per year.
 
On the verge of a windfall?
via Philadelphia Public School Notebook by Dale Mezzacappa on 3/12/09
It looks like Philadelphia is in for a massive sum of new dollars from the state through the federal stimulus plan – some $361 million – if the legislature approves the recommendations of the Rendell administration. That amount would dwarf the amount of new money received in any previous year, representing a 13 percent increase in total District revenues.
 
Tax abatements for green building
via Its Our City by Dan Pohlig on 3/10/09
Late last week, Councilman Curtis Jones and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced legislation that would modify the 10-year property tax abatement of new constructions, conversions and big improvements so that it would be contingent upon obtaining LEED certification.  Heard in the Hall had the details
 
Due Credit: ACORN calls out the tax delinquent Eagles
via Young Philly Politics - Progressive, Young, Philadelphia Politics, from Small to Big. by BradyDale on 3/6/09
Credit where credit is due: someone needed to yell at the Eagles for failure to pay their piece of taxes, and ACORN did it (from CLOUT):