Taxes
$253 Million to Relocate HQ to Camden
Can New Jersey revitalize Camden with tax credits? That remains to be seen, but the state sure is trying. New Jersey awarded one of its largest […]
Would Tax Reform Really Create 80,000 Jobs in Philly?
A bold plan to overhaul Philadelphia’s taxes by a broad coalition of businesses and labor groups was dealt a major blow this June, when City Council President Darrell […]
Study: PA Has Second-Highest Tax Rate for a Coprorate HQ
Pennsylvania’s tax rate is particularly tough on corporate headquarters and independent retail stores, according to a new study by the Tax Foundation and KPMG. The state is kind […]
Philadelphia’s Tax Delinquency Epidemic Rages On
Property tax delinquency was — once again — on the rise in Philadelphia between April 2014 and April 2015. In spite of the Nutter administration’s […]
How Philly’s Plummeting Smoking Rate Could Harm Schools
1. Maybe you shouldn’t quit smoking … for the kids. (We kid, we kid.) The gist: Today, Philadelphia’s new cigarette tax is bringing in the bucks for […]
Did Philly’s Biggest Dark Money Group Break the Law?
1. The dark money outfit Philadelphia 3.0 may have violated city law — and been a flop. The gist: A new, intriguing organization sprung up this year that was aimed […]
Latest Anti Gentrification Rallying Cry? Tax the Flippers
Fear of gentrification is one of the most potent political forces in Philadelphia today. That much, most can agree on. But is that fear broadly valid, […]
The Brief: We’ll Soon Know the Names of All Cops Who Shoot Civilians
1. The police department is going to start releasing the names of officers who fire at civilians. The gist: City Paper reports that Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey […]
Philly’s Tax Lien Sale Sucked*
Philadelphia’s first tax lien sale under Mayor Michael Nutter was a flop. But it was also kind of amazing. I’ll explain, but first, a quick primer on this […]
Darrell Clarke Moves to Quash Big Tax Reform Plan
City Council President Darrell Clarke has forcefully come out against the ambitious plan spearheaded by Paul Levy and Jerry Sweeney to overhaul the city’s tax […]
5 Questions About the Future of Philly’s Schools
Philadelphia City Council did something Thursday that it’s done a lot in recent years: voted to increase both taxes and education funding. Lawmakers expect to […]
Philly Is Getting an 8.5% Airbnb Tax
Airbnb is about to get a lot less laissez-faire in Philadelphia. City Council passed a bill, 15-0, Thursday, which is expected to be signed into […]
The Brief: Philly’s Maternal Mortality Rate Is Worse Than Libya’s
1. A new report digs into Philadelphia’s extremely high maternal mortality rate. The gist: The city’s maternal mortality rate is 27.4 per 100,000 births, according to […]
How the Beverage Lobby Quietly Killed the Soda Tax in Philly, Again
Much in the same way that the best lawyers kill lawsuits before they ever make it to trial, the best lobbyists kill legislation before it is […]
Big Plastic Bag Wins Again
Philadelphia lawmakers have tried to both ban and tax plastic bags in the past, only to be beaten by Big Bag. When Councilman Mark Squilla introduced legislation this year […]