Council (Again) Hears That Taxes Hold Philadelphia Back

Philadelphia Forward and more than 100 supporters again made the case to City Council that taxes hold Philadelphia back and that tax reform can move Philadelphia forward. Attendees from every corner of the city came to tell tales of jobs lost and businesses relocated and how the job-killing Business Privilege Tax must be phased out to grow jobs in Philadelphia.

As part of the panel presented by Philadelphia Forward, Vincent DeFino of the South Philadelphia Business Association presented City Council with letters signed by more than 100 members calling for the adoption of bill 040767 to eliminate the Business Privilege Tax, Sister Aisamah Muhammad of the Lancaster Avenue Business Association told about how the Business Privilege Tax hurts her association's abilty to help start new businesses in West Philadelphia, Al Taubenberger of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce noted that companies that have moved out of Philadelphia now represent more than 20% of his membership, and Jessie Frisby of the South Street West Business Association noted that her struggling businesses want help and that tax reform cannot be only for the big corporations that have received sweetheart deals from the city.

Philadelphia Forward Testimony Before City Council - February 16, 2005