Philadelphia City Council
City Council Committee Pushes Alternative Funding Source For School Budget Gap
Rob Dubow, the mayor’s finance director, argued against raising the city’s “U&O” business tax and in favor of boosting taxes on liquor and cigarettes.
City Council Weighs Raising Use And Occupancy Tax To Help Fund Schools
City Council’s Finance committee today examines a proposal from Seventh District councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez on the ‘Use and Occupancy Tax,’ or U&O, a type of property tax specific to business owners.
City Council Committee Approves Bill To Require Parental Consent For Minors To Use Tanning Salons
Philadelphia City Council will take up a bill later this month to regulate tanning salons, now that it’s been approved in committee.
Council Prez: City Hesitant to Give School District More Money Unless State Does, Too
Council President Darrell Clarke says council will comply with the School District’s request, but only if Harrisburg does the same. But how Clarke could get such guarantees is unclear, particularly since the state budget is unlikely to be settled before the city’s.
Philadelphia Lawmakers Press Nutter Administration To Stop Blocking Fire Contract
Their frustration was evident in a speech made at the hearing by at-large councilman Denny O’Brien (at left in photo).
City Council Tells Mayor To Set Aside Money For New Firefighters’ Contract
Mayor Nutter is still in court battling to stop an arbitration award to the firefighters for a contract period that began in 2009.
Philadelphia City Council Approves Plan To Sell Advertising on City Buildings, Vehicles
By a 15-0 vote, councilmembers approved a measure that would for the first time allow advertising on publicly owned buildings such as recreation centers, and on city vehicles including trash trucks.
Annual LGBT Rights Conference Opens in Philadelphia
But even as the American public becomes more accepting of the LGBT community, Pennsylvania has been slow to make a move when it comes to same-sex marriage or to expand LGBT civil rights.
Councilman Wants To Subpoena Nutter Administration Over Property Revaluations
Councilman at-large David Oh says questions abound over the accuracy of the new assessments, and he says the methodology released last week did not clear up how the new property values were calculated.
Education Activists Plead For $60-Million Stopgap For Philadelphia Schools
Council hasn’t decided whether or how it can give the school district $60 million more, but dozens from the public urged Council to find a way.
Philadelphia School District Makes Its Case For Latest Funding Stopgap
“The budget, in its current form, simply cannot support the services provided this year,” SRC chair Pedro Ramos told Philadelphia lawmakers.
Nutter Administration Stands Firm On Firehouse Brownouts
The Nutter administration says the controversial fire department policy of station “brownouts” will continue even if City Council appropriates extra money to eliminate them.
Philadelphia Property Tax Appeals Could Take 1½ Years, Official Says
BRT executive director Carla Pagan says the time required will be determined by the number of formal appeals filed, which she estimates could range between 10,000 and 50,000, or more.
Philadelphia Revenue Chief Promises Firmer Hand Dealing With Tax Deadbeats
Clarena Tolson, the longtime Philadelphia streets commissioner, is now the revenue commissioner.
Philadelphia DA Says Mayor Is Underbudgeting Fighting Crime
DA Seth Williams went before City Council’s budget committee today asking for an extra $2.75 million above the nearly $32 million that Mayor Nutter has proposed for the district attorney’s office.
