Urging the Mayor to consider a Tax Amnesty Program for the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS

, At present, there is $1.2 Billion in taxes owed to the City of Philadelphia, and

WHEREAS

, At present, the City of Philadelphia is in dire need of a cash flow due to the economic downturn and national recession, and

WHEREAS

, Mayor Michael A. Nutter and his Administration has announced a “PLAN C” proposal to cut more City Services and jobs such as recreation, library, police and fire personnel and garbage collection, and

WHEREAS

, Those citizens who owe taxes are overwhelmed with the interest and penalties owed on their overdue tax bills and council offices have seen a large increase in constituent service calls for help with tax issues regarding interest and penalties, and

WHEREAS

, A Tax Amnesty Program, targeted for a short period of time that will waive the interest and penalties on past due taxes could bring in the much needed revenue the City of Philadelphia, and

WHEREAS

, The State of New Jersey explored the Tax Amnesty project and collected $700 million in back taxes in just two months, and

WHEREAS

, City Controller Alan Butkovitz has also supported the Tax Amnesty proposal, citing it would bring in much needed revenue to the City of Philadelphia almost immediately as citizens could pay off their back tax principle if the interest and penalty was waived, and now, therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA

, That Council urges the Mayor to consider a Tax Amnesty Program for the citizens of Philadelphia that would provide the much needed revenue to avert service and personnel cuts as well as bring citizens' tax accounts up to date and out of debt.

End