PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On Thursday, a Philadelphia City Council member proposed decreasing the city's parking tax, which is among the highest in the country.
However, the reduction would come with strings attached.
The parking tax is currently 25%, due to a temporary increase to shore up the city budget through the pandemic. It’s scheduled to go back down to 22.5% on July 1.
Council member Cherelle Parker’s bill would reduce it to 17%. She said that might help bring people back to the city when all restrictions are lifted next month.
However, she added that she won’t advance the bill unless she’s satisfied that pay and conditions improve for parking workers.
Related
"As I have repeatedly stated during the budget hearings this spring, when we are considering lowering tax rates, we need to think very carefully through why we are lowering these tax rates and who may be the beneficiaries of lower tax rates," she said.
Rob Zuritsky of Parkway Corporation, which owns dozens of lots and garages, said he supports the legislation.
“The city, our industry and the workers all need some tax relief to help the city recover from the pandemic, and allow us to hire back workers and help the parking industry which has been devastated,” Zuritsky said.
Also at this week’s session, Council passed a bill authorizing a $400 million bond sale for a program to improve commercial corridors and assist renters, first-time home buyers and homeowners in need of help with repairs.
Members also tabled a routine, non-binding resolution introduced by Republican David Oh about police training, after a half-hour long debate over the wording.
Related
