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.
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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'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.
Philadelphia City Council will take up a bill later this month to regulate tanning salons, now that it's been approved in committee.
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.
Their frustration was evident in a speech made at the hearing by at-large councilman Denny O'Brien (at left in photo).
Mayor Nutter is still in court battling to stop an arbitration award to the firefighters for a contract period that began in 2009.
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.
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 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.
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.
"The budget, in its current form, simply cannot support the services provided this year," SRC chair Pedro Ramos told Philadelphia lawmakers.
The Nutter administration says the controversial fire department policy of station "brownouts" will continue even if City Council appropriates extra money to eliminate them.
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.
Clarena Tolson, the longtime Philadelphia streets commissioner, is now the revenue commissioner.
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.
City Council members are accusing Mayor Nutter of foot-dragging on putting advertising on city properties in order to generate some much-needed cash.
Robin Jones, 50, avoided jail time following her guilty plea in the wake of a car crash last September in which she rammed a city-owned car into a building at 13th and Hamilton Streets.
The Sheriff of Philadelphia has gone hat in hand to City Council, asking for a whopping 30-percent increase in his budget to hire 100 extra deputies.
"We have a long, long, long, long way before you will see the tactile material disappear," Free Library president Siobhan Reardon told a Philadelphia City Council hearing.
City Council members say their own analysis of new property assessments points to the great need for relief measures for those hit hardest by rising property values.
"I'm very disappointed," said city councilman Bill Greenlee, who tried but failed to get the 12 votes needed to override Mayor Nutter's veto.
Council's attempt to override the veto will not come until next week, if at all.
City Council president Darrell Clarke and others on Council questioned the mayor's finance director, Rob Dubow, over whether the mayor himself will present a plan to raise an extra $60 million for the school district, or whether that political hot potato will fall in the lap of Council.
The mayor's proposed budget contains no extra money for the school district. But members of the School Reform Commission said last week they need $60 million more from the city.
Philadelphia's Chief Assessment Officer, Ritchie McKeithen, was on the hot seat Tuesday during the second day of budget hearings in City Council chambers.
Sunday in the Philadelphia region will be cloudy with periods of rain before fall arrives this week.
The Philadelphia Phillies are optioning Orion Kerkering to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Saturday night, according to multiple reports.
New York again prevented the Philadelphia Phillies from gaining ground in the NL wild card race with a 10-3 win Saturday.
Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday with comments about Gaza, saying what is happening there is "catastrophic and unjustifiable."
Olympian Dominique Dawes said she wants to create a healthier culture within gymnastics.
Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday with comments about Gaza, saying what's happening is "catastrophic and unjustifiable."
Health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport, and it's not related to the case at CHOP.
Raymond "R.C." Horsch, who lived at the so-called "house of horrors" in Olney until he died, was as intelligent as he was a monster and preyed on vulnerable women.
Sunday in the Philadelphia region will be cloudy with periods of rain before fall arrives this week.
The Philadelphia Phillies are optioning Orion Kerkering to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Saturday night, according to multiple reports.
Ed Sheeran opened his solo concert in Philadelphia on Saturday with comments about Gaza, saying what is happening there is "catastrophic and unjustifiable."
Health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport, and it's not related to the case at CHOP.
Surveillance video captured the moment a man had his laptop snatched off his table at gunpoint Friday at Parc in Philadelphia.
Police believe a social media beef might have led to a shooting that injured a 16-year-old in East Germantown Friday night.
Archaeology students from Penn are joining community members to uncover the history of a historic Black neighborhood in West Philly that was demolished decades ago in the name of urban renewal.
Olympian Dominique Dawes said she wants to create a healthier culture within gymnastics.
The suspect has been identified in a deadly shooting that happened outside a Wawa location in Toms River on Friday.
Gregory Taylor says his son, Xavier, is still on a ventilator, but they're hopeful and steadfast in their faith.
North Wildwood police say a man drowned in the ocean near Second Avenue on Wednesday.
The shooting happened around 7:20 a.m. Friday at the convenience store at the corner of Route 37 and Garfield Avenue, prosecutors said.
Friday will start on the humid side, but as temps climb into the low-mid 80s, the decreasing humidity will make for a nice day.
Today looks warm and noticeably more humid in the Philadelphia region, with highs reaching the mid-80s but feeling like the upper 80s.
Another beautiful September day is underway Wednesday in the Philadelphia region.
Tuesday will bring plenty of sunshine, low humidity and light winds in the Philadelphia region, all ingredients to spend time outside.
Concerns are growing in Wilmington, Delaware, after separate shootings over the weekend left two people dead, including a teen.
Health officials are warning of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport, and it's not related to the case at CHOP.
Health officials in Philadelphia are warning about possible measles exposures in the CHOP NICU.
An 18-year-old from Mifflin County has died from measles-related complications, Pennsylvania health officials said.
The Philadelphia Eagles' cheerleading squad has nine new members, including a Jefferson Health cardiac ICU nurse and three other healthcare professionals.
A 40-year-old woman died on Saturday from complications associated with measles, the coroner reported.
New Jersey floral designer Alisha Simone Bell said she puts her "whole heart" into every arrangement and every detail.
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania took a major step in the fight against the negative impacts of social media, particularly on children.
Thieves are smashing windows and targeting trading card stores looking for valuable Pokémon cards, police in South Jersey say.
Customers lined up to support Somerdale Cold Cuts as it reopened after a copper theft.
While some assume landlords are required to provide air conditioning, the law is not nearly as clear-cut as it is for heat in the winter
Two people were taken to the hospital after a large tree fell onto three cars on Belmont Avenue in Bala Cynwyd on Friday.
A crash involving at least two cars is slowing traffic on I-95 South near Allegheny Avenue.
Drivers will start getting tickets for parking in Smart Loading Zones without registering.
A man on a motorcycle was launched from a highway overpass near 2nd and Callowhill streets on Monday night, police say.
SEPTA has resumed service on three Regional Rail lines after downed Amtrak wires caused a suspension on Monday.
The Philadelphia Phillies are optioning Orion Kerkering to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Saturday night, according to multiple reports.
New York again prevented the Philadelphia Phillies from gaining ground in the NL wild card race with a 10-3 win Saturday.
Olympian Dominique Dawes said she wants to create a healthier culture within gymnastics.
Rocco Becht threw for 212 yards with two touchdowns, Koby Howard scored twice and No. 14 Penn State cruised past Buffalo 55-13.
The Mets kept the Phillies from gaining ground in the National League wild-card race with a 6-3 victory Friday night.
Crews are setting up for Ed Sheeran's concert at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend amid a controversy over Macklemore's recent comments.
Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all released statements Tuesday on Instagram saying they were withdrawing from Ed Sheeran's tour.
Performer Macklemore is being dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour after making on-stage statements that some found controversial.
The Philadelphia Eagles' cheerleading squad has nine new members, including a Jefferson Health cardiac ICU nurse and three other healthcare professionals.
The Landmark Ritz Five movie theater in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood has reopened after a brief closure.
Ukee Washington reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Ukee Washington reports.
Middle school students in Philadelphia got the opportunity to do hands-on learning during the school district's five-day career and technical camp.
With her Girl Talk mentoring program, one Philadelphia teen turned her camp days into a safe space to discuss social issues young girls face every day.
Recent high school graduate Sylvain Farrell says his temporary position at a local clinic is the pathway to a full-time career.
A Philadelphia student won an award from NFL Films for his documentary on bringing back sports teams at his Kensington school.
A group of East Norriton eighth graders took what started as an Earth Day project and made a whole initiative.
Andrew Kozak has the latest NEXT Weather forecast for the Philadelphia region as spotty rain showers could hit the Delaware Valley.
In his first concert since Macklemore was dropped from the tour, Ed Sheeran addressed the controversy at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia.
MS NOW, CNN and Politico staffers were turned away from the White House on Saturday morning, the networks said, one day after President Trump said he was banning the three outlets from the property.
The Eagles are heading into Week 2 vs. the Titans without their Pro Bowl left guard. So how will the team replace Landon Dickerson?
The suspect has been identified in a deadly shooting that happened outside a Wawa location in Toms River, New Jersey, on Friday morning.