Poll Shows Overwhelming Support For Tax Reform

Today, (December 1, 2005) the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce released the findings of a poll that finds that Philadelphians overwhelmingly call on the city's elected officials to reduce the city's job-killing business taxes. 

Earlier, the Philadelphia Inquirer offered an editorial (again) calling for tax reform:

Trimming the BPT should sharpen the city's edge in competing with low-tax suburbs in attracting, retaining, and growing business. And with a healthy budget surplus in hand, the city can afford the multi-year tax cut that businesses must have to plan long-term. ( Full Editorial )

This most recent call for tax reform is just the latest credentialed call for City Council to pass legislation to phase out the job-killing Business Privilege Tax.  The voter-established Tax Reform Commission, the Mayor's handpicked 21st Century Review Forum transition team, and the Mayor's Economic Summit all called for the phase out of the job-killing Business Privilege Tax and those calls have been echoed by citizens organizations, neighborhood groups, business associations, and countless Philadelphians .

With the release of this public opinion survey, we confirm what we always knew -- that Philadelphians understand that tax reform will grow jobs and that Philadelphians of every hue and from every corner of the city are calling on City Council and the Mayor to give us tax reform NOW!

• 80% of Philadelphia voters want Mayor Street to sign legislation to enact tax reductions for neighborhoods businesses if passed by City Council.
• 76% of Philadelphia voters think reducing business taxes for neighborhood business helps save jobs and create new ones for Philadelphia residents.
• 75% of Philadelphia voters believe that City Council should vote to reduce neighborood business taxes this year in light of the city's anticipated budget surplus.
• 72% of Philadelphia voters support reducing Philadelphia business taxes in order to create good high-paying jobs for local residents.
• 70% of Philadelphia voters would be more likely to vote for a City Councilperson who voted to reduce business taxes.
• 46% of Philadelphia voters would be more likely to vote against a City Council person who opposed reducing local business taxes.

After reviewing the findings, the independent pollster (Public Opinion Research, Inc.) stated, "Voters in Philadelphia support the concept of reducing business taxes that will lead to retaining and bringing more jobs into the city."

Chamber President Mark Schweiker echoed the sentiment, "These survey results clearly show that Philadelphia residents are concerned about jobs in their neighborhoods, and they realize that business tax cuts lead to employment opportunities for them and their neighbors."