HEARD ON THE HILL / IN CITY HALL: Taylor Comments On House Tax Vote

STATE REP. Mike Driscoll, at his 2nd Annual Comedy Night fundraiser, takes moment to enjoy photo with part of Devlin Family, including Kelly and Flossie Devlin and Terry Devlin.

State Rep. John Taylor (R-Northeast) issued the following statement after the State House voted to reject Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest proposal to increase state income taxes:

“The tax proposal that came before the House included a 16% income-tax increase that would have hit our hard-working, middle-class families especially hard. Although the proposal also included a severance tax on natural-gas drilling, the revenue generated by that tax is minimal, as predicted.

“In fact, of the estimated $1.4 billion in new revenue in the 2015-16 fiscal year, 95% of it comes from income taxes on Pennsylvania families and small employers. Just 5% would come from a severance tax, even though the Governor is proposing one of the highest severance taxes in the nation. A tax on natural gas is simply not going to solve our budget challenges, and it actually could make them worse if the tax is so excessive it drives the industry out of the state. And if the industry leaves, thousands of tradesmen, including plumbers, boilermakers, pipe fitters and electricians, would find themselves out of work.

“There is no question we need to increase revenue to make ends meet, but today’s plan was not the way to do it. We were being asked to increase taxes on our citizens and small businesses without any indication of how the money was going to be spent. I acknowledge the need for additional revenue, but I am not going to support increasing taxes without knowing the money is going to be invested in the areas that need it most, such as our schools.”

Donatucci Supports Tax Relief For Seniors

State Rep. Maria Donatucci (D-S. Phila.) released the following statement after supporting the commonsense tax increases included in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget:

“This budget isn’t just about getting through the next fiscal year; it’s about putting Pennsylvania on the right fiscal path now so that our children and grandchildren don’t have to clean up our mess later.

“For years, the previous administration cut education and human service programs to the bone, while letting corporations off the hook. The results were just as you’d suspect: Pennsylvania now has the most inequitable schools in the nation, our state’s credit has been downgraded multiple times and our seniors are dealing with sky-high property tax rates. Something has to change.

“Gov. Wolf’s bold vision would restore education funding and include a $400-million increase for basic education. This means the Philadelphia City, Southeast Delco and William Penn school districts would be positioned to cut class sizes, offer advanced courses to prepare students for college and bring back teachers who were laid off due to budget cuts.

“In addition, the plan would eliminate school property taxes for about 331,000 seniors and people with disabilities, and expand the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to include another 569,000 households. It would also finally enact a reasonable severance tax on natural gas – just like the one every other major natural gas-producing state already has in place. These are changes that are long overdue and will help move our state forward.”

Bullock: Compromise Plan Best Chance For Passage

State Rep. Donna Bullock (D-N. Phila.) said she voted for the compromise tax plan because: “We lawmakers have heard all along from our constituents that they want to see compromise, cooperation, new ideas and, ultimately, answers for the mess Pennsylvania is in. We responded  by putting forth such a plan in an attempt to bring seniors tax relief, to put money into our schools and to restore funding to human-service agencies – all things Pennsylvanians have been asking for.

“Unfortunately, due to a difference in ideology over taxes and literal pennies on the dollar, the majority party took the easy way out and voted it all down, siding with special interests and against the people.

“As tough as it will be to return to the district after this vote, my Democratic colleagues and I can hold our heads high, knowing that we put forth a viable budget plan that put people first.”

Blondell Seeks Green Incentives

Councilwoman at Large Blondell Reynolds Brown, chair of the Council Committee on the Environment, has introduced a bill allowing for density zoning bonuses for developers who incorporate approved green roofs into the building design.

Under the current code, a 10,000 square foot lot in a Residential Multi Family Zoning District (RM-1) would be zoned for 20 dwelling units. If the developer added an approved green roof to the design, the same lot would be zoned for 27 units.

In a Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Zoning District (CMX-2 and CMX-2.5), a 10,000 square foot building is currently zoned for 19 dwelling units and under the new law, would be zoned for 27 units, provided they install an approved green roof.

A green roof is defined by the ordinance as “a treatment to a rooftop that supports living vegetation and includes a synthetic, high quality waterproof membrane, drainage layer, root barrier, soil layer, and vegetation layer.”

Earlier this year, Mayor Nutter signed the Councilwoman’s bill to double the Green Roofs Tax Credit, doubling the credit off of their Business Income & Receipts Tax liability for approved expenses related to the installation of a green roof from 25% to 50%.

Driscoll To Host First Senior Fair

State Rep. Mike Driscoll (D-Northeast) will host his first senior fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 at the Torresdale Boys Club, 4500 Linden Avenue.

The fair is free and includes light refreshments, door prizes, and useful information and materials from local and regional organizations, as well as senior-citizen service providers.

Seniors will have access to information on services and programs from many exhibitors. For more information, contact Driscoll’s office at (215) 281-3414 or (215) 333-9760.

Acosta: Dental Services For 19140 ZIP Coders

In an effort to further improve community health, State Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-N. Phila.) wants local residents to know they are eligible for free dental examinations if they live in the 19140 ZIP code and do not have dental insurance.

Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry is set to offer the exams through Mar. 31, 2016. The exams will take place at the dental school at 3223 N. Broad Street. Appointments are not required, but strongly encouraged. Appointments for adults can be made by calling (215) 707-3895, while appointments for children can be set up by calling (215) 707-2863.

“I have long been a champion of increasing access to dental care, so I am pleased to see Temple University reaching out to the community in such a significant way,” Acosta said. “It can be difficult to find quality dental care, especially when you don’t have insurance. I hope all eligible residents will take advantage of this great opportunity.”

Acosta said participants will receive a dental exam, X-rays, and a check for cavities and gum disease, in addition to a personalized plan depending on their needs. If additional procedures are needed, more information will be provided about treatment options.

Earlier this year, the State House of Representatives unanimously approved Acosta’s HR 58, designating February 2015 as National Children’s Dental Health Month. The measure cited federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimates 80% of children in the United States have experienced tooth decay, with children living below the federal poverty level being increasingly susceptible to dental issues.

House Passes Thomas’ Property-Assessors Bill

The State House has unanimously passed legislation introduced by State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas (D-N. Phila.) that would bring a new level of professionalism, uniformity and accuracy to Philadelphia’s assessment process.

Thomas’ bill (HB 321) would require the City to use only certified property assessors. Currently, Philadelphia is the only county exempt from a state law that requires those responsible for valuating property to be certified by the State Board of Real Estate Appraisers. The bill would remove that exemption.

“For too many years, Philadelphia’s assessment practices have been unfair, unpredictable and confusing,” Thomas said. “Steps were taken a few years ago in an attempt to rectify the system by transferring property-reassessment functions from the City’s Board of Revision of Taxes to a separate Office of Property Assessment, but more needs to be done to restore homeowners’ confidence in the process. My bill would do just that.”

State law requires a certification process that includes a minimum of 90 hours of course study related to appraisals and assessments, an exam on the appraisal process and assessment procedures, and 20 hours of continuing education. Under the Thomas bill, Philadelphia assessors now would be subject to all of this, and have three years to become certified.

The bill goes to the Senate for consideration.

DeLissio Hears Constituent’s Concerns On Henry Avenue

State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio (D-Northwest) hosted a meeting among constituents and stakeholders to hear concerns and discuss safety measures for the upper part of Henry Avenue, between Port Royal and Wissahickon Creek Bridge.

The reason for this meeting was receipt of a petition signed by about 60 constituents regarding the speed of traffic on Henry Avenue.

Attending the meeting were representatives from PennDOT, the Streets Dept., the Pennsylvania State Police, 4^th Dist. Councilman Curtis Jones and the 5th Police Dist.

During the meeting, constituents made requests for consideration of traffic-calming measures. Also discussed at length was speed enforcement. Excessive speed was the No. 1 concern of almost all attendees.

It is anticipated that a follow-up meeting will be convened in January 2016 to get an update from PennDOT officials on how community concerns, particularly for traffic-calming measures, will be incorporated into their safety-improvement plans.

An update on the closure of Walnut Lane Bridge will also be provided at that time. That bridge is anticipated to close for replacement in March 2016 for six months.

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