Survey: City On Wrong Track; Candidates Who Are For Tax Reform Receive Votes

Philadelphia Forward released the results of its Fall Survey.  It revealed that:

  • 66% of respondants believe that Philadelphia is headed off on the wrong track,
  • 97% of respondants say that the city tax structure needs a fundamental overhaul, and
  • 85% of respondants are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports tax reform. 

The survey of questions posed to recipients of Philadelphia Forward email dispatches was conducted by email on October 12th (responses received through 10/15 are included in the results).  While one should not conclude that this is a representative sample of the city's population, it is just one more indication that Philadelphia Forward is succeeding in its mission to educate about and promote tax reform to create a constituency for change in Philadelphia.  Click read more to access the full survey report (note totals may not add to 100% due to rounding and cases of "no reply").

1.

All in all, do you think things in Philadelphia are headed in the right direction or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?
21% - Headed in the right direction
66% - Off on the wrong track
11% - Do not know

2.

Do you think tax reform is one of the most important issues the city should address, just one of many issues the city should address, or one of the least important issues the city should address?
76% - One of the most important issues
21% - Just one of many issues
2% - One of the least important issues
1% - Don't know

3.

Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view: Philadelphia's system of taxes needs a fundamental overhaul, or Philadelphia's system of taxes should basically be left as it is?
97% - Needs a fundamental overhaul
1% - Should basically be left as it is
2% - Don't know

4.

Do you think you get your money's worth for the local taxes you pay, or do you think you pay too much for what you get?
8% - Get your money's worth
84% - Pay too much for what you get
5% - Don't know

5.

The City's Tax Reform Commission proposed a package of recommendations to reduce the City Wage Tax, eliminate the Business Privilege Tax, and make Real Estate Taxation fair and understandable. Legislation to reduce the Wage Tax by more than one-third over the next decade was passed into law, but the other recommendations have yet to be enacted.

Opponents of the Tax Reform Commission's recommendations believe that the city would need to dramatically cut city services to pay for the remaining suggested tax changes. Supporters say that the costs of implementing the rest of the tax reform agenda are low representing about two percent of the city's total spending over the next five years. Do you think following the Commission's recommendation should be implemented even if it means the city will have to reduce spending by a total of two percent over the next five years?
80% - Yes
8% - No
11% - Don't know

6.

Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate that supported the recommendations of the Tax Reform Commission?
86% - More likely
4% - Less likely
9% - Don't know

7.

In the past months, Philadelphia Forward has been educating about and promoting the recommendations of the Tax Reform Commission as a series of policies that make sense for Philadelphia. Which messages have most influenced your thinking about tax reform in Philadelphia Forward?  (Totals do not equal 100% because respondants could give multiple answers.) 
47% - High/unfair taxes hurt job growth
55% - Tax reform will increase jobs
50% - The city budget can afford tax reform
27% - Local tax reform is not voodoo economics
25% - Your voice can make a difference
5% - Don't Know

 

Which messages would you like to hear more about in the future as part of additional educational efforts?  (Totals do not equal 100% because respondants could give multiple answers.) 
78% - High/unfair taxes hurt job growth
49% - Tax reform will increase jobs
43% - The city budget can afford tax reform
25% - Local tax reform is not voodoo economics
31% - Your voice can make a difference
2% - Don't Know

8.

Have you expressed your views regarding tax reform to your elected officials in recent months?
62% - Yes
36% - No

9.

If you have expressed your views regarding tax reform to your elected officials, do you believe they were responsive to your comments? (If you have not expressed your views to your elected officials, please skip this question.)
26% - Yes
38% - No

 

If you believe that your elected officials were NOT responsive to your comments, what is the reason for your response?  (Responses received are reproduced without editing.) 

BPT remains intact
City Council - with few exceptions  if it wasn't bought-and-paid-for prior to considering the TRC's full package of recommenations  and the mayor's tax reform  neutral shift recommendations has disgraced itself beyond Phila. citizenry's  ability to comprehend public corruption...
Coucilman is a Street ally.
Fed up with Mayor Street and his excuses
Got an automated email response with a standardized message.
Influence of campaign contributions from interests opposed to progressive change.
Michael Nutter didn't support the package when it came before City Council.
Most were responsive.  Those who were not were the members who did not support Tax Reform
My councilperson would be elected from jail!  The greater good of the city takes a back seat to her own greater good.
no one has solved the problem of cutting taxes and not cutting spending around critical issues like improved education and city services
None
Not interested in changing the status quo.
Of the six who oppose the tax plan  I received just one letter in reply to my fax letter.
only one response received
received standard form.  I really have no idea what their position is.  They don't seem to be doing the job and all decisions depend what team you are on  not the issues at hand.
small fish
Some elected officials were going to do whatever the mayor said to do  regardless of how many people told them they wanted tax reform. The next conversation will be done via the voting booth.
Some were responsive  others not so.  Those who are in the mayor's back pocket are like blind sheep following the shepherd.
Some yielded to pressure from constituents  others (BReynolds-Brown) yielded to pressure from the administration.
Tax Reform didn't pass.
The at-large council members (Ramos and Blondell-Brown) I contacted did not vote to move tax reform forward. They won't be receiving my vote in the next election.
The elected officials are not listening to their constituents.  They are looking out for themselves and keeping their own alliances.
The officials that directly represent me (Councilman Clarke and Mayor Street) did not respond to my concerns and still voted against reform. The effect felt more like that of preaching to the choir.
The real answer is somewhat. The council passed at least part of the tax reform bill and had a serious discussion about the issue. Street and certain members of council are intractable on the issue.
The survey does not provide for split answers.  Councilman Goode gets it  along with several others.  However  many are either heavily invested in the status quo or scared off by Mayor Street's false choice rhetoric.
There are a group of council-persons who find it more important to follow the Mayor than the people.
They did not overide the mayors veto!
They don't care b/c she will do whatever Street tells her to do (DOnna Reed Miller)
they don't give a damn. elections are far away. they are dishonest.
They just don't listen.
Too tied to the old way - big government - high taxes!!
When I sat down at City Council to testify on the matter  my own councilperson took that opportunity to walk out of the room.  When I have called council offices  they have listened  but have not seemed very interested.I've never received a letter or return phone call explaining the council person's views.
Why did they raise the price from $15 to $50 to get a marriage license. They say because other cities have it. What about the ones that only pay $15 or even $10. does that mean they will lower it.
Sometimes I feel that they all give the same answers….”they’re working on it” but I feel that more can be done.
I would say "yes" and "no."  The "forward” thinking politicians are very much aware of the NEED for tax reform in its entirety.  The "others" whom are against tax reform partially or totally are the most frustrating and troubling.  Why? See below. 

10.

What other issues should Philadelphia Forward focus on in its work to promote positive policies for Philadelphia?  (Responses received are reproduced without editing.) 

Billboard talk show(WPHT WNTP)appearances.Supplemental insert to local papers.

Build a larger  stronger and more diverse core team from all neighborhoods large and small businesses etc.

By continuing the good work that you are already doing

By having a few volunteers in the streets of Philadelphia to give informational sessions to the public.  There are many Philadelphians who aren't very familiar or know about this organization and its purposes.  Also  the more knowlegable the public becomes the more likely they will be to confront legislators and the MAYOR.  To finalize  I belive that this is especially important because the good news do not get passed on as fast as bad news does.  So by having constant volunteers out  handing out flyers and giving information the positivism will spread.

Consider becoming a member organization that permits members to elect representatives to the board and establishes neighborhood chapters.

Contact the new magazine Philadelphia Row Home to advertise what you are trying to promote.  Get the word out as best you can.

Continue doing what you are doing. Use the press and media. Build membership. Pressure politcians  especially around election time.

Continue on the path you have started I think your following is increasing and our elected city officials will have to listen if your want to continue to stay in office.

Continue Philadelphia Forward as a watchdog group as well as advocate for tax reform. Many of the ideas supported by PF are repeated in the local press (Inq and Daily news) so the word is getting out. Hold individual city council members accountable for their votes -- do more to publicize what city council is doing as opposed to Street now a lame duck.

Create position papers and push candidates to declare themselves in support or in opposition to those positions.Businesses will be among the primary beneficiaries of these reforms.  They need to be used as a stronger voice in  support of the positions.

Do not lose faith. Stay the course.

doing a great job

E-mail campaign is very effective  but also need consistent presence in other media  especially newspapers.

hardcopy advertisement. More people need to read the message.

Highlight some positive policies that work either here or elsewhere and tell how to get them started.

Host educational forums

How about town meetings with local community groups.

I feel the open house meetings are great but need to be rotated to encompass all areas of Philadelphia  not just South Philly.

I think you are doing a great job.  Using the internet as an outreach tool is great.  Network with neighborhood groups and biz associations.

Internet  Rallies  and TV promotions

Just keep doing what you've been doing. It's really important now to be persistant.  Stayon the target of tax reform.  thanks  

Keep doing what you are doing.

KEEP OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION

keep talking  organizing meetings  and demand to speak and protest at city council meetings.

Keep up the good work that you've been doing over the past several months. 

Keep up the good work.

Listen to the people  we are subjected to our failing system here in Philadelphia.

Media campaigns to get the attention of more people.

more examples of how this hurts the poor - make it real --eg  talk about the folks who have to take the bus to King of Prussia for work use real examples of diverse middle class folk who have moved because taxes were crushing them put a "face" to small business owners  particularly minority business owners  and have them tell their story. If they dont understand the economics - create a simple education summary (i've talked to a few business owners who were clueless about their taxes or had just accepted them as unchangeable)

more police presents less taxes

One issue at a time.

Pardon me for skipping some of the questions I don't live in Philadelphia  although I did make a call to Mayor Street's office  and to a couple of Council members  as I recall.  I come to this as a Georgist  working to raise land-value taxes and reduce everything else  so that's what I think Philadelphia Forward should try to accomplish.  You seem to have de-emphasized the land taxation part of your message.

Public education  keeping us informed of important issues the city is facing through this mailing list and lobbying city hall for meaningful reform.

Quit bowing to everyones needs and have our elected representives represent the people they are suppose to work for not for their own self interest.

Spend less time trying to lower taxes  and more time on how taxes are spent. We are currently spending a fortune to support a city hall  where governing activities have slowed because of a legal investigation. City agencies that run efficiently should be rewarded. 

Tackle some of the issues that I've raised above.Thank You.  

Tax All City elected officials at 60% Let them pay the tax. then cut taxes for all the people in Phila. at 75%  Set a flat tax to all in Phila. At 5%.  then only cut small business taxes in half . 

Tax reform does not exist in a vacuum. Promotion of in-fill growth in the city is sensible. Promotion of growth-for-the-sake-of-growth is not. Philadelphia is a "city of neighborhoods". It's a major piece of what makes this city great. Moving Philadelphia "forward" at the cost of funding community programs (where most of your "2%" hits home as a significant part of the category) is absurd. "Taxes  taxes  taxes"? Nope. "Communities  communities  communities."

Tell what the $$$$ consequences of bad real estate assessments represent. Direct mail approach - a la HGFA -utilizing #s specific to individual real estate owners and with a calculator URL for analyszing the savings for local wage tax payments (and business taxes)

This message should be taken to ALL neighborhoods at town meetings  civic associations  etc. Also all neighborhood newspapers. The fact of the matter is that cities borrow money all the time and even if there are a few lean years  this is going to so benefit the city that the money will be make up in a short period of time. Also  more public leaders and city council members that do support tax reform should speak out and their should be major demonstrations and events to push this issue.

you may wish to consider  hosting face to face forums or targeted social events to get people more excited and plugged in to what's going on.

You're doing a great job.  Keep it up.In particular the type of cross-marketing/support such as the CSX issue  below  is smart.

awarding of city contracts
Quality of life--parks, recreation
Tax land, not buildings - that's the essential reform
Getting people in the community stand up against criminals who are making them prisoners in their homes.

 

 

 

 

How do you suggest Philadelphia Forward continue its work to promote positive policies for Philadelphia?  (Responses are reproduced without editing.) 

 

(1) quality of life issues for residents: education system  loud radios  cleanliness  policing(2)mass transit/SEPTA - the Broad Street line is decrepit
1. Business tax reform2. Real Estate tax reform3. Wage tax reductions.4. Crushing the carpenter's union's stranglehold on construction jobs and costs.5. Zoning and construction/renovation permit process reform.  This should be a simple process for most cases and it's not.6. Amenities and culture
A modern and reliable transit system is absolutely vital for Philadelphia's prosperity. It needs to be updated  improved and made safe and convenient with a dedicated source of state funding. Reward car owners and drivers for using it by offering credits on their gasoline taxes.Don't demolish old structures  recycle them! Our greatest assest is the wealth of old and still structurally sound structures which can be rehabilitated and reused for new utilitarian purposes.Our beautiful Fairmount Park needs help! it is a Victorian masterpiece underutilized and abused. Put welfare recepients to work cleaning it up and maintaining it.Hand the Dept. of Human Services (DHS) over to the state. It is a state function.Get rid of the Philadelphia Housing Authority! 
allowing city employees to move outside the city
Become so important to voters that the 'Forward' will help people make hard decisions by being able to understand the issues.
Better public schools!!
Bio 2005 - this is a HUGE economic development opportunity (albeit long term)
Building regulations and planning that would encourage mixed-use development and multiple employment centers within the city limits
BUILDING UP THE WATER FRONT  LOWER TAXES  SO PEOPLE BUILSD AND BRING MORE JOBS BACK INTO THE CITY.
Building/strengthening communities. Efforts to attract additional immigrants to Philly.
Campaign Finance Reform
Center City traffic.Noise pollution  i.e. motorcycles with open pipes should be banned.
Compare proposed reforms in Phila. with implemented similar reforms from other cities.Presumably a positive result followed.
crime in the neighborhoods
Cut Taxes For all.
Education - given the amount of money from taxes that goes to the schools  this is a key issue.Healthcare - the funds being consumed by health and welfare funds for city employees has to be addressed if we are to significantly manage the tax burden.Apropos of your message below  Freeing Schuylkill River park is not a priority for Philadelphia Forward.  It distracts from the message.
election reform  nonpartisan redistricting of council seats
eliminating pay for play and shaming/outing politicians that engage in it.
Ethics in governmentThe dumbing down of society and how to counter stupidity and ignorance
ethics. Also  make phila tax reform a regional issue in the same way that other NGOs are taking a regional approach to marketing and economic development in SEPA. Continue to work with other agencies  university programs  etc. to avoid duplication of effort.
Get business community to take a far more active role ingovernmentpolicies
graduated taxes instead of a flat tax  city subsidizing of SEPTA  better spending on Parks  make the "pay to play" system illegal  and build a new subway rather than all these damn new stadiums for teams that aren't even that good.
growing the local economy is paramount to the improvement of the lives of the citizens of Philadlephia.
Have more schools for children with disbilities implemented into the system with skilled teachers in the area alone  as well as having them in there one on special school.
Honesty  intrgrity  above board policies.
Honesty in governmentSimple procedures for setting up busineses and filing taxes
How will lower wage taxes create safer streets  better public schools  homes for the homeless  better public transportation?
I think the issues are greater than getting businesses to stay  in our city  and getting people to work here. I think we are not using the money we have properly. For example the Mayor's towing of cars that are not register. His program has towed two cars of mine. Why not ask the question why people are not insured? They will probally have the same problem I had. They can not afford to keep up the high monthly premium costs. If that same money that is collected from the towing program was put in a substidize program to cut cost of insurance premium the program would help elminate the amount of people driving without coverage. I also think some how we have to cut the amount of taxes homeowners have to pay  in order to keep people from moving away  like I plan to do.
Improving education in Philadelphia and providing training and jobs to low-income people as part of the strategy for job and industry growth.
In my opionion  the City has to address two areas:  Tax Reform and Philadelphia School District
Ineffective city bureaucracy stands in the way of many good projects  and corrupt city bureaucy kills many.  "Corrupt and contented" should be over!
Infrastructure maintenance - streets  etc.Ending real estate
It appears that this city is not being ran correctly.I am a taxpayer and can't afford to pay my bills.I work a full time job and i suffer more than a person on welfare.This is not fair.The Philadelphia Gas compant is out of control also  and no one is doing anything about this sitution. I an truly discussed with this city.
Keep SEPTA fares   stable
Let people be responsible for themselves. Why should I pay for other people to have breakfast and lunch so they can go to school and get discount on their school uniforms while I have to buy eveerything myself because I am suppossingly middle class
Make people more aware of the ridiculous spending pet-projects in which this city administration participates.
make sure LVT and full assessments for ALL properties stay on the radar screen
Need to split tax reform from City worker contracts i.e.  not gain tax reform at their expense.  Explore interim funding mechanisms (i.e. sale or lease PHL airport) to bridge short-term funding shortfall.  Also  PF should align itself with Center City Owners Association to stop KOZs in Center City - which  if enacted  would preclude tax reform.
New issue announced this a.m.Civil service test fee $35.00. Who does Street think he is????
Pay for Play
pay to play has killed our city
Philadelphia Forward needs to try and level the playing field for Philadelphia.  The 5 outlying counties are taking advantage of our existing tax structure and attracting Phila businesses.  Why not eliminate City wage taxes and business taxes and replace with a regional sales tax so there is no incentive to leave the city and go to the suburbs.
Quality EducationSafety in our SchoolsPublic Transportation
Quality of life
quality of life issues
Question #5 on your survey is difficult to answer because it's not worded clearly.
Reforming SEPTA and improving public transit in the metropolitan area. Privatizing or reforming failing city agencies like PGW.
regionalism
River Boat GamblingPersonally I'm for it.
See below.
The entire structure of the Phila Workforce (e.g.  its size and how jobs are compensated) desperately needs an 'outsider's' view.  The no. of employees has not been significantly reduced even though the population has been reduced by circa 25% in the last 30 years.  Other government entities have been able to reduce the size of the workforce with productivity gains via technology.  Why NOT Philly?  The HR practices - mainly the determination of how jobs are compensated - is in need of a complete overhaul.  There has been significant "job creep" (an idiom to describe increasing pay via the 'job evaluation system') in many white collar positions in the last 25 years.  I make this statement with some authority  as a former management level employee with the Philadelphia Personnel Department (I left 6 years ago after a 20 year career in Personnel).There are also hidden costs (beyond the purview of accounting ledger sheets) that are related to some organizational culture issues.  Example:  Employees are paid a portion of their sick time (used to be 30%) upon retirement.  In some departments  employees are permitted to "run out" their sick time before retirement.  If an employee has 200 sick days  this amounts to almost a full year of pay while s/he sits at home BEFORE collecting retirement pay.  ANOTHER cultural legacy that is "off the books" is unofficial compensatory time for management level employees in the Police Department (this one's a sacred cow  by the way).  Captains and above "earn" compensatory time for "overtime work" - an unlimited amount - which they run out prior to retiring.  Such practices take a significant toll on the city budget and are completing out of the public's eyes.
There are so many options...
This issue is big enough!
Wasted spending in city government due to pay to play politics.
Ways to reduce the budget so that tax reform can be done within the income available
we need to also focus on our our infrastructure  which is deplorable  and development of viable tourist districts throughout the city - have you ever ventured through sacramento  ca and wondered why we can't do the same thing in old city?
Where to cut the budget.How to reform land management policy.
work on the _full_ package of tax reform (TRC)not just the biz package which will not work in exclusion.Untangling the city from SEPTA and creating a new Philadelphia Transit Agency which would reduce public transit costs and increase services and quality and integrate rail and surface and subway. Funding such a decreasing cost system comes from property taxes (and capturing land value increases) Education: Top-down management is the source of many problems in the SDP. Create an incentive system _beginning_ by empowering local school teachers to hire nd fire their own administrators and staff. Which parts of public education "privatization" might actually work???? Use an early childhood education (ECE) model adjusted to age appropriate activities. Get kids out of the schools and working on real projects and seeing real things around the city. (free public transit for all school-based activities).. Anon...
Work to get rid of pay to play

Have you tried contacting the city’s “Young” organizations…Young America; Young Republicans; Young Involved Phila; etc….. these groups all have high membership numbers and could be a good way of getting your message out.

Begin to look for a candidate for the next mayoral election who supports this reform

Try to get members of the local press, radio, and TV to increase coverage of reform effort in the city.

a. Their constituencies are the ones’ that need this reform the most and I’m sad to say that most individuals in these selected areas, don’t know WHAT tax reform is, WHY it’s important or HOW it effects them.  b. Progress, exemplified by growth is a substantive determination of success in anything, especially business! How can business succeed w/ crippling and outdated tax schemes?  Unfortunately, the conclusion of such backward thinking in our government has been exhausted in magazines and newspapers alike.  An innumerable amount of poles on the top cities for development/relocation and business opportunities across the USA, concluded that Philadelphia is pretty much in last place . Meaning, NO ONE WANTS TO (or can afford to) COME HERE AND STAY, live, work or raise a family.   We CANNOT be competitive if our tax structure is antiquated and inflexible.  And don’t even get me started on our pay – to – play scandal. c. Our Mayor is the number #1 culprit in support of the status quo.  He’s already spent a large portion of taxpayer money to create the Tax Reform Commission, 21st Centuriest and the Summitters whom all “proposed a package of recommendations to reduce the City Wage Tax, eliminate the Business Privilege Tax, and make Real Estate Taxation fair and understandable.”  I ask you, “What the heck else does one need to do in order make tax reform a real and lasting tangible part of our economic system?  Therefore, I believe it to be our goal as Philadelphian’s to continue our fight for something so absolutely necessary to the future of our fair city.  I am here to stay and fight for what’s right.  As my mommy says, “Nothing worth having comes easy.”  So, let’s take that mantra and run with it… run to the end b/c at the finish line, we’ll be winners!

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