Philadelphia 2011 Budget

It shouldn’t take the local media exposing massive dysfunction within the BRT to move our elected officials toward an active stance relative to injustices that have perplexed homeowners in this city for decades. Yet, without actively challenging the status quo, no true change will occur in Philadelphia.

Budget discussions are ongoing and this year, we are urging that all Philadelphians meet with their council members to ensure your voice is heard before March 4, 2010, which is the date Mayor Nutter will make his formal Budget Address to the city.

Are you able to answer any of the following? If not, it’s time to schedule a visit with your council member.

•  What sources of revenue were used to pay for what was spent last year?
• What change in each of the major revenue sources are projected for the 2011 budget?
• Did Philadelphia lose revenue because of cuts in state aid?
• Did the Legislature transfer any aid from Philadelphia to another jurisdiction? If so, how much?
• Did Philadelphia city gain aid? If so, how much?

Remember, the political process is a communication process: ongoing dialog with your councilmember shapes the public agenda. We are inundated with the catch phrase “Sustainable Development” yet anything truly sustainable is dependent upon citizens participating in the debates and decisions that affect the lives of themselves, their families and the community as a whole.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant as we have witnessed with the media coverage over the past few months of the BRT. Begin asking the questions before your voice is stifled and you find that you must comply with budget cuts to community services that you find vital in your community.

Last year, in the middle of a recession, citizens made clear that they did not want what they considered vital services to close. The outpouring of community and union opposition made the government rethink this strategy. In these city-wide meetings many ideas were proposed: raising the property tax, freezing tax reductions already scheduled, and raising the sales tax, taxing not-for-profits and other ideas, cutting DROP, and many more.

Because of the media heat generated by the BRT mess, the property tax was untouched, even though our foundation showed how a property tax increase, coupled with a general building abatement for all properties would keep most residential taxes steady.

The scheduled tax reductions for the Wage Tax, the Business Privilege Gross and the Business Net Receipts tax were frozen.

The sales tax – the tax that falls hardest on working and poor people and small business – was finally raised from an already high 7% to 8%. That’s actually a 14% hike.

What will happen his year?

Will Mayor Nutter hold more city-wide meetings to hear your ideas and choices to help the city? Will Council come to your home, church or civic association to ask for ideas on what to do with another round of tough decisions to make? We don’t know.  But, if you reach out, if you help us get a message of tax fairness out, we can help our city government make good choices that won’t hurt the city as it tries to recover from the Great Recession.

We don’t benefit fiscally like a lot of people in this city.  We just need to get an idea out.  What can you do to take this from an idea to reality?

The Henry George Foundation of America (HGFA) along with our sister organization have formulated a solution that we have found to be effective in 17 jurisdictions throughout the state of Pennsylvania. We met with most council members last year and presented our solution but we cannot do it alone. Council and the Mayor need to hear from you. Take a moment to review the information we provided, call our office to learn more. HGFA’s solution can help balance Philadelphia’s 2011 budget in a way that will help this city retain the services your community depends on without closing libraries, recreation centers, and art programs.