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Philadelphia City Council To Have Final Vote On Soda Tax

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia City Council is expected to have its final vote on the soda tax today. If the bill passes, as expected, Philadelphia would be the first major city in the country to impose such a tax.

This final vote happening as the beverage industry wages its multi million dollar campaign against the plan, which was amended to a 1 and a half cents per ounce tax, not just on sugary drinks, but diet as well.

The tax is billed as the funding source for Pre-K, and other initiatives, and city resident Daria says she's mostly good with that

"For the purposes of raising enough money to build community schools, for instance, that's a great thing. So, I think overall it would be a positive thing for the city."

Her concerns, the tax affecting lower income residents.

And another resident in Center City says he's concerned about a chunk of money going towards other programs and employee benefits that came up after the administration and council negotiated.

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