Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed plan to tax soda has failed. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the City Council told Mayor Nutter that there would not be enough support to pass the tax. Nutter had planed on adding a two cent per ounce tax which would add about twenty-four cents to a can of soda.
Another proposed tax which has been eliminated is the proposed trash pickup fee. Council members say this tax could unfairly hurt lower-income residents.
The Council is however set to raise property taxes for the fist time in two decades. They also plan to eliminate hundreds of job which have not been filled for some time. These measures are part of the solution to a budget gap totaling over one-hundred million dollars.
Despite the Philadelphia City Council striking down Nutter’s proposed soda tax, others across the northeast are also attempting to tax soft drinks. New York Governor David Paterson has proposed a one cent per ounce tax. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has also proposed a two cent per ounce tax.
The Philadelphia City Council continues their attempts to fix the proposed budget of almost four billion dollars. They have until May 31 to come up with a solution.
(Photo courtesy Associated Press)
By Andrew Wagner and Josh Buzi, Group 39, Spot News
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