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From YouTube: Committee on Finance 2-18-2020
Description
City of Philadelphia
Public Hearing Notice
February 11, 2020
The Committee on Finance of the Council of the City of Philadelphia will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, at 11:00 AM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
200016 An Ordinance amending Section 19 1508 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Refunds and Forgiveness for Poverty Income,” to revise the tax rate, under certain terms and conditions.
200117 An Ordinance approving the amendment of the Fiscal Year 2020 Capital Budget providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works (including the supplying of funds in connection therewith) subject to certain constraints and conditions, and acknowledging the receipt of the Revised Forecast of Capital Budgets for Fiscal Years 2021 through 2025, as amended.
Immediately following the public hearing, a meeting of the Committee on Finance, open to the public, will be held to consider the action to be taken on the above listed items.
Copies of the foregoing items are available in the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Council, Room 402, City Hall.
Michael A. Decker
Chief Clerk
A
I
had
to
call
this
hearing
to
order,
there's
a
public
hearing
in
the
City
Council
Committee
on
Finance.
The
purpose
of
this
public
hearing
is
to
your
testimony
and
build
numbers
to
zero
zero
zero
one,
six
and
two
zero
zero
one,
one,
seven!
Let
you
recognize
the
presence
of
a
quorum
for
today's
public
science
committee.
Hearing
to
my
left
on
the
vice
chair
of
the
committee,
I
can't
remember:
Bobby
Heenan
to
my
right:
councilman
Curtis,
Jones
jr.
B
A
C
I
will
keep
my
remarks
brief,
as
detailed
in
my
written
testimony
after
the
Commission's
review
and
consideration
of
the
record
presented
in
this
matter.
The
Commission
supports
and
does
recommend
that
City
Council
approve
a
PG
w's
request
to
amend
this
fiscal
year.
2020
capital
budget,
this
Rick,
what
PG,
w's
requests
does
not
represent
an
increase
in
the
total
cost
of
the
impacted
line
items,
but
will
allow
PGW
to
complete
two
projects
that
were
originally
concluded
in
PGW
fiscal
year.
2018
capital
budget
and
whose
authorization
was
to
expire,
August,
31st
2019.
C
These
projects
are
related
to
safety
and
reliability,
a
PGW
system,
and
it
is
critical
that
PGW
be
allowed
to
complete.
Both
the
commission
therefore
respectfully
requests
and
recommends
that
council
approved
bill
number
two:
zero
zero
one,
one,
seven
on
behalf
of
the
philadelphia
gas
commission
I.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
provide
this
testimony
and
I'd
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
that
you
may
have
regarding
it.
Thank.
A
D
Morning,
chairman
Greene
and
members
of
the
City
Council's
Committee
on
Finance,
my
name
is
Douglas
Moser
and
the
executive
vice
president
and
acting
chief
operating
officer
for
the
photo
op
eds
works
I'm
also
appearing
today
on
behalf
of
PGW
and
support
bill
number
two:
zero
zero
one
moment:
seven,
which
would
approve
that
amendment
on
pgdavis
fiscal
year,
2020
capital
budget
I've
submitted
written
testimony,
and
you
know
Conservancy
your
time.
You
know
Jamela
has
already
listed
what
the
amendment
would
be.
So
I
will
just
be
available
for
any
question
to
it.
You
may
have.
A
Think
Thank
You
mr.
Moser
everything
just
give
a
little
more
background
on
the
amendment
of
about
a
million
dollars
that
one
everything
about
half
and
half
to
replace
an
anti
shutoff
valve
an
LNG
tank
at
Passyunk
and
the
other
ones
to
relocate
the
LNG
switchgear
Passyunk.
If
you
can
give
a
little
more
background
on
that
information,
yeah.
D
That
is
correct.
The
the
original
gas
processing
that
is
in
our
gas
processing
budget,
the
original
gas
processing
budget
was
about
three
point:
four,
five:
three
million
four
hundred
fifty
two
thousand
dollars.
This
amendment
would
have
those
two
projects
you
know
about
one
hundred
and
twenty
nine
million
dollars
as
those
two
projects.
The
one
project
was
to
replace
a
shutoff
valve
and
to
install
an
additional
shutoff
valve
on
the
tank
at
Passyunk
plant
or
LNG
tank.
The
second
project
is
to
relocate
electrical
switch
gear
at
our
pacion
plant.
A
D
D
A
And
so
from
just
reading
the
testimony
from
my
recollection
from
the
gas
Commission
I'm
hearing
and
these
type
of
capital
investments
are
to
maintain
the
operations
of
LNG
facility
I
mean
in
top
working
order
at
pass
unit.
That
is
correct.
Yes,
Thank
You
mr.
Moser,
like
that
acknowledged
counselor
Mahina.
In
for
questions.
E
Thank
you,
Thank
You,
mr.
chair
I'm,
not
sure
who
did
direct
the
question
to
here
should
be
fairly
simple.
I,
don't
know
if
it's
the
case
Commission.
Maybe
you
had
mentioned
that
three
point.
This
is
a
part
of
the
gas
processing
capital
investment
right,
3.4
million
dollars,
and
it
is
the
1.9
a
part
of
that
3.4
or
is
it
in
addition
to.
E
C
E
C
D
Without
it
was
a,
it
was
a
2018
project.
It
was
a
two-year
project
to
complete
the
work.
The
work
started
in
2019
the
we
have
a
two-year
spend
on
the
money
it
would
have
ran
out
at
the
end
of
fiscal
year.
2019.
This
is
to
amend
the
2020
budget
to
incorporate
that
entire
work.
The
overall
cost
of
the
project
was
a
little
bit
more
than
we
originally
anticipated.
So
that's
why
we
needed
this
additional
okay.
C
And
it
should
be
noted
that
when
the
gas
Commission
makes
recommendations
for
these
sorts
of
reauthorizations
after
the
two-year
lifespan
of
projects
has
expired,
PGW
only
has
an
additional
15
months
within
which
to
complete
the
project
itself.
So
it
really
is
an
extension
of
time
so
that
the
work
can
be
completed
is.
E
D
E
Great
it's
it's
important
that
everybody
knows
how
things
you
know
fall
into
play
when
you
have
a
five-year
plane
this.
This
is
a
poor
part
of
it.
In
addition
to
you
know,
oh
and
with
this
or
there
any
other
projects
that
are
delayed,
I
think
you're
gonna
come
you'll,
be
back
in
front
of
this
body.
For,
for
you
know,
expanding
of
time,
I
think
you
haven't
been
able
to
start
yet
with
the
two
year.
A
B
D
B
D
D
You
know
on
a
warmer
winter
for
the
type
of
operation
we're
running
in
the
local
area.
Lng
demand
will
be
down
a
little
bit
right
now,
because
you
know
we're
not
a
we're
not
needing
to
use
additional
volume.
So
the
rest
of
the
area
here
is
in
the
same
situation,
where
they're
using
less
volume
that.
A
A
Through
our
meetings,
I
know,
you've
been
doing
a
lot
of
outreach
to
increase
the
actual
spend,
unlike
the
city
where,
as
ranges
PGW
in
their
DB
efforts,
actually
provide
numb
an
actual
spent
and
that's
going
up
from
2011
15
percent
to
20
20
proposed
to
be
25%,
which
is
actually
higher
than
the
20
percent
goal.
They've
been
a
number
of
initiatives
that
I
know
in
your
office.
You've
implemented
to
increase
that
especially
a
lot
of
outreach,
and
it's
for
the
record.
If
you
could
put
that
information
for
the
members.
Yes,.
G
Hello,
my
name
is
Erica
Patterson
I'm,
the
director
of
contracts,
management
and
supplier
diversity
in
a
supply
chain
department
in
Philadelphia
gas
works
for
PGW.
Our
commitment
to
supplier
diversity
is
to
increase
the
utilization
and
inclusion
of
small
and
local
diverse
businesses
within
the
Philadelphia
and
tri-state
areas.
Pgw
for
this
particular
project.
G
We
actually
have
done
numerous
outreach
efforts,
as
relates
to
sourcing
for
DBE
vendors,
that
can
support
the
capital
budget
projects
from
fiscal
18
and
19
and
20
and
ongoing
the
sourcing
mechanisms
that
we
do
utilize
for
PGW
to
find
those
particular
vendors
would
be
the
OEO
registry.
We
are
corporate
members
of
the
Chamber's,
which
is
the
African
American
chambers
of
commerce,
Hispanic
Chambers
of
Commerce
Asian
Chamber
of
Commerce,
and
were
also
members
of
the
Eastern
minority
supplier
development
council.
A
Thank
You
mr.
Patterson,
also
just
for
the
record
I
will
stay.
I
know
that
and
the
PGW
has
the
bulk
of
their
spin
is
a
very
specialized
type
of
spending.
Reference
to
pipes
and
investments
and
I
know
we've
been
doing
a
better
job.
A
PGW
been
doing
a
better
job
to
do
that
type
of
outreach.
You
know
recently
the
city
had
engaged
in
a
legislation
to
bring
best
value
to
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
A
A
H
Thank
You
chair
member
green
and
my
other
colleagues
on
the
Finance
Committee
for
the
opportunity
today
to
discuss
the
wage
tax
bill.
We
fund
legislation.
As
we
all
know,
we
unanimously
passed
this
legislation
17
to
zero
last
session,
but
the
mayor
used
his
pocket
veto
authority
to
not
allow
the
bill
to
become
law.
This
was
unfortunate
and
a
major
roadblock
for
many
low-income
individuals
and
families
trying
to
get
out
of
poverty.
However,
we're
here
again
today
to
advance
this
legislation
that
will
help
150,000
Philadelphians.
H
This
bill
would
refund
low-income
households
for
the
amount
they
pay
in
the
city's
wage
tax
for
60,000
households.
This
has
been
a
tax
on
poverty
and
we
should
not
be
applying
this
burden
on
those
struggling
to
get
by
every
day.
It's
already
an
embarrassment
that
our
city
taxes,
it's
working
poor
higher
than
the
top
fifty
cities
in
the
United
States.
It's
time
we
change
this
trend
and,
more
importantly,
it's
time
we
move
the
needle
on
our
cities,
24
and
a
half
percent
poverty
rate.
H
I
want
to
thank
my
co-sponsors,
councilmember
Cheryl,
Parker,
councilmembers,
Murray,
Aquino
de
Sanchez
and
chair
member,
derek
green
and
all
my
colleagues
and
all
of
those
who
joined
in
the
community
such
service
providers
as
community
legal
services,
filthy
Association
of
Community
Development
Corporation
campaign
for
working
families,
Seba
benefits
data
trust,
the
reinvestment
fund,
the
African
American
Chamber
of
Commerce,
the
Philippine
Chamber
of
Commerce
Esperanza
and
many
others
in
support
of
this
legislation.
Many
individuals
spoke
that
day
and
all
agree
that
the
way
to
solving
many
issues
in
our
city
starts
focusing
on
improving
poverty
ambition.
H
Many
advocates
indicated
that
providing
this
wage
tax
refund
would
be
more
efficient
than
having
to
apply
through
a
separate
grant
program.
The
refund
program
structure
already
exists
in
the
city,
and
it's
already
supported
by
the
state.
Providing
a
refund
based
on
income
would
also
not
prohibit
an
individual
from
qualifying
for
other
types
of
assistance.
Programs
such
as
snap,
where,
as
a
grid
program,
could
disqualify
many
residents
it's
time
we
make
our
tax
system
fairer,
I,
look
forward
to
advancing
this
legislation
and
hope
the
mayor
will
join
us
in
this
effort.
A
You
councilmember
DOM
miss
or
miss
Artemis
Abernathy.
Thank
you
for
being
here
once
at
least
hear
from
the
administration.
Before
you
testify
so
big
disk,
it
was
a
few
moments.
We're
gonna
have
the
administration
come
and
testify.
So
if
you
can
just
sit
in
your
seats
to
your
left
and
right
inside
of
the
gate
and
then
we'll
bring
you
up
as
soon
as
we
hear
from
administration.
J
Good
morning,
chair
Greene
and
members
of
the
committee
I'm
Rob
DuBose
city's
finance
director.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
on
bill
number
two:
zero:
zero,
zero
one
six.
While
we
support
the
bill's
intent
for
reasons
I'll
discuss
later
in
this
testimony,
we
asked
the
bill
be
held
and
considered
as
part
of
the
budget
process
that
will
begin
next
month.
The
legislation
would
expand
the
current
point:
five
percent
income
based
wage
tax
refund
in
two
stages,
starting
on
July
1st
2020
qualifying
Philadelphia
residents,
would
receive
a
two
point.
J
Three
seven
one
two
percent
refund
and
qualifying
non-residents
would
receive
a
one
point.
Nine
four,
eight
one
percent
refund,
both
residents
and
non-residents-
would
effectively
be
paying
an
amount
equivalent
to
only
the
Piko
portion
of
the
wage
tax,
which
is
1.5
percent.
Following
this
follow
the
scheduled
sunset
of
the
pike,
a
portion
of
the
tax
in
twenty
three
qualifying
residents
and
non-residents
would
receive
a
full
wage
tax
refund.
We
support
the
bills,
intent
increasing
the
income
of
Philadelphians,
who
are
living
in
poverty
and
promoting
economic
mobility.
J
For
that
reason,
working
with
City
Council
to
combat
poverty
will
be
a
prior
to
the
FY
2008,
which
will
be
released
in
a
couple
of
weeks.
The
budget
will
include
an
approach,
that's
targeted
to
residents
living
at
or
near
poverty,
not
towards
non-residents
or
individuals
who
may
pay
limited
wage
tax,
but
are
not
in
poverty.
We're
concerned
that
the
inclusions
of
commuters
diverts
funds
that
could
be
used
to
aid
Philadelphians
and
we're
worried
that
the
bill
allocates
city
resources
to
provide
tax
relief
to
people
who
don't
live
in
the
city
as
currently
drafted.
J
The
bill
refund
expands
an
existing
Department
of
Revenue
Program,
and
the
increased
benefit
would
likely
increase
utilization
of
refunds
as
the
refund
stands
now,
roughly
1,500
refunds
or
issued
annually
analysis
from
revenue
suggests
that,
based
on
state
espy
returned
data.
They
were
about
ninety
six
thousand
four
hundred
returns
in
2018
with
taxable
compensation.
On
average,
those
filers
would
receive
a
two
hundred.
Seventy
four
dollar
refund
at
full
capacity.
The
program
would
cost
a
minimum
of
twenty
six
and
a
half
million
dollars
annually.
J
Following
adoption
of
this
legislation,
revenue
also
anticipates
you
needing
to
hire
two
additional
employees
to
process
refunds.
The
rebate
program
is
complicated
for
taxpayers
to
navigate.
It
requires
individuals
to
file
a
completed
PA
for
DSP
form
with
the
Commonwealth
confirming
their
income
eligibility.
The
threshold
is
determined
by
the
state,
meaning
that
it
includes
those
with
high
incomes
from
401,
K
distributions
pensions
and
other
sources,
not
taxable
by
the
Commonwealth.
J
Linking
access
to
assistance
to
the
PA
program
also
leaves
out
individuals
who
don't
file
the
form
or
filing
correctly.
Taxpayers
must
then
complete
and
submit
a
refund
application
to
the
city.
It's
process
results
in
a
program
they're,
currently
only
one
and
a
half
percent
of
potentially
eligible
taxpayers
utilize
in
the
city's
inclusive
growth
strategy
released
last
year,
the
administration
called
for
the
state
to
give
Philadelphia
the
flexibility
to
have
more
progressive,
efficient
and
competitive
tax
structure.
J
The
Commonwealth's
uniformity
Clause
prevents
Philadelphia
from
enacting
a
more
progressive
tax
structure
that
would
meet
the
intent
of
this
bill
to
lower
wage
tax
contributions
for
low-income
earners
in
poverty.
We
look
forward
to
working
with
counsel
during
the
budget
process
on
an
approach
to
raise
incomes
focused
on
impoverished,
Philadelphians,
that's
accessible
and
maximizes.
The
impact
of
the
funds
we
can
devote
to
this
obvious
need
we're
waiting
several
program
models
for
inclusion,
21
budget,
with
the
goal
of
identifying
one
or
more
program
with
a
proven
ability
to
reduce
poverty.
J
The
crucial
part
of
that
process
will
be
to
include
an
evaluation
component
so
that
we
can
expand
programs
that
were
to
nominate
those
that
don't
we
request
that
if
the
socialization
is
approved,
a
similar
approach
is
taken
and
an
evaluation
component
is
included
with
the
sunset
provision
after
two
years,
so
that
the
program
would
only
continue
if
it
were
successful
and
I
think
that
amendment
has
been
circulated,
but
I
have
additional
copies
if
it
hasn't.
That
concludes
my
testimony
and
I'm
available
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have
Thank.
A
You
mr.
Deveaux
just
want
to
make
sure
I
understand,
Gemma
understanding,
I
know.
Historically,
an
administration
has
had
challenges
in
reference
to
new
tax
credit
program
versus
grant
programs
and
si
pause
there.
Philosophical
debate
that
time
time
may
occur
between
the
executive
and
legislative
branch
on
how
to
address
issues
like
poverty
but
separate
than
that
I
guess.
Some
of
the
other
highlights
of
some
of
the
concerns
that
I
understand
and
are
correct
me
if
I'm
wrong,
that
the
administration
has
collected
legislation.
A
Is
that
one,
the
difficulty
in
implementing
the
legislation
that
will
cost
additional
staffing
to
implement
the
legislation?
That's
one
that
those
who
are
still
low
income
but
or
out
of
state.
That
was
also
an
issue
I
heard
from
the
administration
and
that
you
really
would
like
to
have
some
type
of
review
time
to
kind
of
pilot.
This
idea
prior
to
full
implementation.
So
it's
not
so
much
the
cost
of
the
program
form
or
some
implementation
correct.
That's.
J
J
A
J
I
I
understand
is
that
you
are
concerned,
of
course,
about
the
total
amount
of
revenues
that
would
not
be
coming
to
the
budget
and
in
particular,
in
addition
to
the
complexity
of
the
program,
some
people
being
eligible
for
the
program
based
on
state
requirements
that
we
are
including
some
non
Philadelphia
residents
as
well,
and
you
do
identify
the
uniformity
issues
about
taxation.
So
you
do
state
to
second
or
last
or
the
while.
Second
to
last
paragraph,
that
the
administration
is
weighing
several
program
models
for
inclusion
in
the
fiscal
year,
21
budget
and.
I
I
J
I
Know
what
I'm
saying
is
I'm
trying
to
understand,
because
it
sounds
like
you're
asking
us
to
either
to
basically
hold
the
bill
while
the
administration
works
out.
Something
and
the
other
part
is
you'd
like
to
have
it
sunset
if
it
does
pass
the
sunset
to
see
if
it
works,
and
my
question
to
you
is
I
think
a
lot
of
us
are
concerned
about
the
points
that
you
raised,
but
we
have
a
bill
in
front
of
us
and
you're
saying
the
administration
is
working
out.
I
Something
and
I'd
like
to
better
understand
what
it
is
that
you're
working
out
and,
and
so
what
I'm
saying
is
if
I
were
a
person
of
low
income
that
was
working.
My
wage
tax
is
taken
out
with
all
my
other
taxes
and
now
through
a
grant
program.
I
have
to
make
an
application
I
have
to
somehow
that
has
to
be
corroborated
by
something
someone
has
to
process
it.
They
have
to
calculate
something
and
then
I
have
to
get
a
check
that
that's
complicated
cost
money.
Is
it
not
as
complicated?
Does
it
cost
less
money?
I
J
It
will
be
proposed,
it'll,
be
in
the
budget,
which
is
two
weeks
away.
So
all
those
details
will
be
worked
out
over
the
next
couple
of
weeks
and
we'll
be
able
to
kind
of
explain
all
of
that
then.
So
we're
not
asking
for
you
know
any
definite
delay
just
until
the
budget
process
starts
two
weeks
from
now,
but.
J
A
Thank
You
councilmember,
oh,
but
even
so
I
make
sure
honest,
my
understandings
that
you're,
you
really
just
want
you
just
to
want
the
legislation
to
make
this
permanent.
You
rather
just
wait
for
a
period
of
time,
so
you
can
evaluate
it
before
becomes
permanent
as
well
as
wait.
The
fact
that
you
are
in
the
process
of
finalizing
the
budget
for
the
mayor's
but
address
in
the
first
week
of
March
right.
A
A
But
I'm
saying
there's
nothing
stopping
from
that
to
occur,
especially
if
the
utilization
is
at
a
much
higher
level
than
anticipated
and
got
closer
to
full
utilization
of
twenty
six
million
dollars.
That's
something
that
that
type
of
data
could
be
informative
and
instructive.
The
council
to
address
it's
going
forward.
That's.
J
H
Thank
you
and
good
morning
morning.
I
just
want
to
review
the
the
timeline
on
this
so
put
down
on
paper
here
in
March
of
2019.
Almost
a
year
ago,
our
office
requested
data
from
revenue
re
low
income
taxpayers
in
June
of
2019.
Three
months
later,
the
data
came
in
our
office
made
a
second
request.
What
proposed
low
income
taxpayer
refund
idea?
No
data
data
ever
came
back
from
that
requests.
In
September
2019,
we
introduced
the
bill.
November
13
2019
the
bill
passed
through
the
Finance
Committee
unanimously
in
late
November
of
2019.
H
We
met
with
the
administration
again,
no
concrete
alternatives
are
provided,
only
vague
ideas
of
putting
more
resources
into
EITC
promotion,
December
5th
of
2019.
The
bill
passes
unanimously
17
to
0
before
all
of
Council
December
31.
There's
a
pocket
veto,
January
23rd.
We
reintroduced
the
bill,
January
30th
we
meet
with
the
administration.
Again
they
say
they
want
to
run.
The
grant
program
did
a
big
meeting
a
lot
of
people
in
our
office,
provided
no
specifics
about
that
program
whatsoever.
H
The
next
day,
January
31.
We
sent
a
letter
to
you
Robin
copying,
commissioner
Breslin,
asking
as
a
follow-up
to
our
January
30th
meeting
with
you,
and
several
administration
officials
were
requesting
additional
insight
and
clarification
regarding
the
administration's
views
for
providing
wage
tax
relief
to
assist
150,000
Philadelphians.
We
had
a
series
of
several
bullet
points
that
we
wanted
to
get
answers
to
one.
How
much
do
you
anticipate
sitting
aside
to
fund
your
proposed
grant
to
what
guarantees
are
there
that
an
amount
would
be
set
aside
for
proposed
grant
program
going
forward?
Three?
H
What
set
of
criteria
do
you
intend
to
use
for
determining
korean
eligibility?
For?
Can
you
provide
a
detailed
outline
of
the
process
you
anticipate
using
to
verify
grant
eligibility?
What
process
do
you
anticipate
using
to
capture
as
much
of
the
target
population
as
possible?
What
percentage
of
potential
wage
tax
refunds
will
go
to
non
Philadelphia
residents
and
explain
in
detail
the
most
efficient
method
under
our
bill
to
implement
the
refund?
H
We
asked
for
these
answers
by
February
13th
about
10
business
days
later,
but
we
never
got
a
response
until
I
saw
an
amendment
yesterday,
I'm
just
giving
the
history
of
what
occurred
here.
So
I
just
want
everybody
to
be
aware
that
something
we
didn't
try
to
get
information.
We
tried
very
hard
and
that's
just
the
background
of
the
timeline
Thank
You
Sherman
I.
K
J
K
J
J
K
J
K
J
J
K
J
K
So
again,
going
back
to
what
the
chairman
said,
this
is,
if
you're
saying
we
need
a
date,
we
need
to
move
the
dates
to
allow
us
to
incorporate
in
the
five-year
plan.
Well,
that's
a
very
specific
request
right
and
then
we
can
entertain
it.
But
that's
not
what
you're
saying
to
us
you're
saying:
you're
gonna
start
a
brand-new
program
with
a
brand
new
structure
in
two
weeks,
you're
going
to
introduce
something
for
us
in
lieu
of
this,
but
you
don't
want
to
tell
us
about
it.
Do
you
understand
how
you
feel
uncomfortable
about
this.
J
K
K
J
K
K
K
Councilman
Dom's
point
that
he's
requested
some
information
and
there
doesn't
seem
to
be
the
willingness
to
have
a
transparent
conversation
with
him
as
a
legislator.
That's
very
concerning,
because
he's
put
a
lot
of
work
into
this
I
feel
like
the
administration
feels
like
you.
In
two
weeks,
you're
gonna
come
up
with
a
much
better
idea
than
one
that's
been
debated
for
twenty
years
and.
J
K
H
Jim
I
agree:
I
just
want
to
make
a
comment
on
the
current
program
is
0.5%,
so
the
average
refund
sir,
what
50
to
$75,
maybe
$100,
may
not
be
enough
to
motivate
anybody
to
even
do
that.
We're
proposing
something
that's
close
to
five
times
as
powerful
as
the
current
program,
which
I
think
would
have
more
of
a
motivation
for
people
to
apply
and.
J
A
The
minutes
administrators
gonna
prove
well
the
mayor's
and
provide
the
budget
to
Council.
I
played
us,
Thursday,
March,
5th,
correct,
okay,
and
so
my
understanding
from
your
testimony,
you
would
like,
like
me
to
hold
this
or,
if
you
do
voted
out,
voted
out
in
a
way
that
the
administration
would
like
to
see
amended
because
you're
still
putting
together
the
budget
and
you're
proposing
a
new
initiative.
That's
right.
A
J
A
A
But
I
would
but
I
would
think
when
the
administration
made
a
decision
to
deciding
yes,
I
would
like
to
hold
a
bill
or
any
alternative,
amend
it
for
this
delay
and
as
you're
going
through
the
budget
process,
there's
been
some
consideration,
even
as
amended
based
on
administration.
Amendment
there'll
be
some
type
of
financial
impact
to
the
budget,
which
then
also
would
give
someone
a
perspective
that
there's
some
indication
of
what
the
utilization
would
be
even
based
on
the
administration's
amendment.
J
A
L
L
I
appreciate
the
opportunity
to
testify
in
support
of
Bill
number
two:
zero:
zero
zero
one
six,
which
seeks
to
increase
the
amount
of
city
wage
tax
that
is
reimbursed
through
the
low
income
wage
tax
refund
program,
Philadelphia
city
wage
tax
is
the
highest
of
its
kind
in
the
nation,
and
no
one
feels
no
one
in
the
city
feels
its
burden.
More
than
almost
forty
nine
thousand
for
low-income
individuals
and
that's
the
number
we
serve
27,000,
come
from
the
federal
taxes
and
the
additional
families,
our
family
members
that
are
dependent
on
those
tax
returns.
L
Our
typical
client
will
be
helped
by
this
bill.
A
single
parent
with
two
children
earning
twelve
thousand
four
hundred
and
eighty
two
dollars
a
year
would
receive
approximately
four
thousand
nine
hundred
and
ninety
dollars
in
federal,
Earned,
Income,
Tax
Credit.
Three
hundred
and
eighty
six
in
the
Pennsylvania
special
tax
forgiveness
to
low
income
tax
credit,
but
only
sixty
three
from
the
current
Philadelphia
low
income
wage
tax
refund,
with
the
passage
of
bill,
two
zero
zero
one.
L
Six,
this
same
client
will
see
their
wage
tax
refund
increased
by
approximately
three
hundred
and
three
dollars,
resulting
in
three
hundred
and
sixty
six
of
their
hard
earned
wages
being
returned
to
them.
They
would
then
use
these
additional
funds
to
purchase
the
critical
necessities
like
housing,
food
clothing,
just
helping
them
to
meet
their
ends,
meet
and
circulating.
These
are
funds
back
into
the
local
economy.
L
Cwf
also
stands
ready
to
help
market.
The
newly
expand
low
income
tax
refund,
as
well
as
directly
assess
Philadelphia's
philadelphians
with
falling
their
refund
petitions.
Our
position
as
a
trusted
provider
of
free
tax,
preparation
for
tens
of
thousands
of
low-income
Philadelphians,
combined
with
our
network
of
over
20
community
based
tax
sites,
makes
CWF
ideally
suited
to
help
the
city
ensure
that
the
passage
of
this
legislation
has
real-world
effect
as
its
intended
again.
Cwf
appreciates
the
opportunity
to
offer
support
for
bill
to
zero
zero
zero
one
six.
L
M
Thank
You,
chair
Greene
and
members
of
the
Finance
Committee
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
in
support
of
this
much-needed
wage
tax
relief
for
low-income
philadelphians.
The
bill
would
make
more
than
96,000
philadelphia
households
eligible
for
a
bigger
wage
tax
refund
beginning
this
tax
year
and
provide
a
61
percent
wage
tax
refund
in
tax
year
2021
and
would
effectively
eliminate
the
wage
tax
entirely
for
these
taxpayers,
beginning
in
2024.
My
name
is
Pauline
Abernathy
and
I'm.
M
Since
we
started
in
2005,
we've
helped
over
a
hundred
and
ten
thousand
philadelphians
access
benefits
worth
over
three
hundred
and
thirty
million
dollars
in
assistance
to
help
pay
for
food
housing,
healthcare,
childcare
and
other
basic
needs
through
benefit,
as
it
ey
Denisha
t'v,
aimed
at
reducing
poverty
and
increasing
economic
mobility.
As
you
know,
Philadelphia
not
only
has
the
highest
poverty
rate
in
the
nation
we
of
any
big
city
in
the
nation.
It
also
has
the
highest
local
income
tax
in
the
country.
We
are
literally
taxing
working
Philadelphians
in
and
into
poverty.
M
In
contrast,
New
York
City
has
a
refundable,
local,
Earned,
Income
Tax
Credit,
that
is
administered
by
the
state
that
supplements
the
federal
and
state
AITC
and
lifts
thousands
of
New
Yorkers
out
of
poverty.
New
Yorkers
don't
have
to
apply
separately
for
this
locally
ITC.
They
get
it
automatically
when
they
claim
the
state
a
ITC,
and
that
is
exactly
what
we
recommend.
The
city
of
Philadelphia
do
with
the
local
wage
tax
refund,
as
I'll
explain
how
that
can
be
done.
M
M
Bdt
and
our
benefit
partners,
including
that
campaign
here
from
philadelphians
struggling
to
make
ends
meet
despite
working
one
or
more
jobs,
benefit
Lee,
helped
a
47
year
old
mother,
raising
two
daughters
and
well
West
Philadelphia
on
fourteen
thousand
four
hundred
dollars
a
year
well
below
the
poverty
line.
Yet
she
paid
about
five
hundred
and
sixty
dollars
in
wage
taxes.
If
this
bill
were
in
effect,
she
would
have
been
eligible
for
about
a
three
hundred
and
forty
dollar
tax
refund
in
the
first
full
year.
M
As
the
finance
director
testified,
we
have
a
current
wage
tax
refund.
Very
few
people
receive
it.
Why?
Because
there
is
a
paper
separate
paper
application
that
has
to
be
filed.
It's
only
available
in
paper.
You
can't
submit
it
online
and
it
doesn't
have
to
be
that
way.
The
eligibility
for
the
state
tax
refund
is
the
same
as
for
the
city,
and
yet
only
2%
of
those
claiming
the
state
tax
refund
get
the
local
tax
refund,
because
it
is
this
separate
application.
M
We
know
from
experience
that
if
you
want
people
to
receive
a
benefit,
the
best
way
to
do
that
is
to
tie
it
to
something
else
that
they're
receiving,
and
so
our
three
administrative
recommendations
to
make
this
wage
tax
refund
actually
benefit.
The
people
intended
are
as
follows.
First
and
most
importantly,
work
with
the
state
to
make
the
process
of
claiming
the
wage
tax
refund
as
automatic
as
possible.
Taxpayers
should
not
have
to
fill
out
this
separate
form
for
the
local
wage
tax
refund.
M
The
more
than
96,000
philadelphia
households
receiving
the
state
special
tax
refund
are
all
eligible
for
this
local
wage
tax
refund
the
city.
Could
the
state
could
issue
the
local
refunds
for
the
city
when
a
resident
claims
the
state
special
tax
refund?
The
city
would
then
reimburse
the
state
for
the
total
amount
of
the
local
tax
refunds.
This
is
essentially
what
New
York
City
does
currently
with
their
local
IIT
C
and
how
its
administered-
and
it
is
by
far
this
simplest
and
most
effective
solution.
M
Alternatively,
the
city
could
obtain
a
list
from
the
state
of
all
the
Philadelphians
residents
who
qualified
for
the
state's
special
tax
refund
and
automatically
issue
refunds
to
them
under
either
approach
automating
the
process
would
both
increase
the
poverty,
fighting
impact
of
the
tax
refund
and
reduce
the
administrative
burden
on
both
taxpayers
and
the
Department
of
Revenue.
The
second
recommendation
is
to
simplify
the
load.
Local
wage
tax
refund
application,
so
short
of
having
the
state
just
administer
it
automatically,
which
is
the
preferred
approach.
The
city
could
still
greatly
simplify
the
local
refund
application.
M
First,
this
application
could
be
available
online
and
be
mobile,
friendly
and
taxpayers
shouldn't
have
to
attach
their
state
tax
application
and
their
w-2s
to
the
application
as
they
currently
have
to.
Since
the
state.
The
city
is
already
checking
with
the
state
to
confirm
that
they
receive
the
lit
state
tax
refund,
so
it's
just
an
unnecessary
barrier,
so
even
increasing
the
current
refund
you're
not
going
to
see
a
really
large
uptake,
given
the
paper
form
the
attachments
required,
etc,
etc.
M
First,
the
city
could
work
with
the
national
companies
like
H&R,
Block
and
Intuit,
to
make
sure
that
the
local
tax
refund
is
in
their
software,
that
millions
of
Americans
use
and
that
people
under
fifty
thousand
dollars
of
income
can
use
for
free.
That's
how
the
there's
a
pop
up
in
their
software
for
the
state
tax
refund,
but
there's
not
for
the
local
tax
refund
because
of
this
burdensome
paper
process
by
asking
them
to
include
it.
That
would
immediately
ensure
that
the
uptick
goes
way
up.
M
Second,
the
city
could
make
this
local
wage
tax
refund.
Part
of
the
you
earned
it
campaign
around
the
Earned,
Income
Tax
Credit,
and,
finally,
the
these
simplification
recommendations
would
make
it
much
easier
for
the
campaign
for
working
families
and
others
who
are
helping
people
fill
out
their
taxes,
help
them
claim
the
local
wage
tax
refund.
Thank
you
again
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
this
morning.
A
H
Remember
Queen
and
thank
you
both
for
your
testimony
today.
We
appreciate
it
and
I
guess
pulling
what
you're
saying
is
the
number
one
recommendation
is
to
work
with
the
state
to
make
it
automatic.
That's
your
number
one
recommendation
that
would
be
the
administration
to
work
that
out
with
the
state
of
Pennsylvania
yep.
A
Thank
you
I'd
like
to
have
the
clerk
read
the
names
of
the
witnesses
for
the
next
panel.
Also.
Will
let
members
of
the
committee
know
that
we
did
receive
written
testimony?
I've
laid
a
reinvestment
fund
will
be
testifying,
but
we
also
received
testimony
from
African
chamber
of
commerce,
Pennsylvania,
New,
Jersey
and
Delaware
I
see
as
president
Donovan
West
is
here.
If
you'd
like
to
testify
as
part
of
the
next
panel,
you
can
feel
free
to
do
so.
N
O
Rush
so
I
think
you
remember,
council,
members,
Dom,
Kimo,
Sanchez,
green
and
Parker
for
introducing
this
bill
and
for
the
opportunity
to
lend
my
voice
in
support.
My
name
is
Jacob
Rosh
I'm
here
on
behalf
the
reinvestment
funds
policy,
solutions,
group
or
even
Memphis
reinvestment
fund
is
a
Philadelphia
based
Community
Development
financial
institution.
We
use
capital
and
data
based
market
expertise
to
build
strong,
healthy
and
workable
communities.
O
Through
our
work,
we
have
invested
millions
of
dollars
to
support
numerous
housing,
community
and
economic
development
projects
across
Philadelphia
we've
partnered
with
the
administration
and
council,
most
recently
to
support
Philadelphia's
special
Committee
on
poverty
reduction
and
prevention,
which
aims
to
reduce
the
number
of
Philadelphia's
living
in
poverty
by
a
hundred
thousand
by
2024.
We
believe
that
this
bill,
which
would
reduce
and
eventually
eliminate
the
city's
wage
tax
for
low-income
residents.
O
It's
a
direct
way
to
put
money
back
into
the
hands
of
working
people
and
families
for
whom
making
ends
meet,
is
a
daily
and
significant
struggle
for
a
family
of
three
earning
at
the
federal
poverty
threshold,
which
is
about
$21,000
each
year.
Eliminating
the
city's
portion
of
the
wage
tax
would
provide
roughly
$500
or
$42
a
month
of
additional
income
for
a
low-income
family.
That's
a
significant
change.
Forty-Two
dollars
in
monthly
wage
tax
savings
would
pay,
for
example,
for
a
typical
monthly
city
water
bill.
Ordinarily,
two
weekly
trans
passes
on
septa.
O
The
low
participation
participation
rate
in
the
city's
existing
income
based
wage
tax
refund
program
tells
us
that
a
simple
and
transparent
process,
as
was
just
described
with
minimal
barriers
to
participation,
is
critical.
We
therefore
encourage
council
to
consider
a
system
to
implement
this
bill,
with
the
fewest
additional
administrative
barriers
to
participation.
This
bill
makes
the
city's
wage
tax
structure
more
progressive
and,
since
residents
to
meaningfully
engage
in
labor
force
inputs,
resources
into
the
hands
of
philadelphians
for
her
making
ends
meet
is
a
significant
daily
struggle.
F
You
excuse
me
good
afternoon.
My
name
is
Marcos
lamellae
I'm,
a
program
coordinator
at
Savea
we're
a
coalition
of
Latino
community
based
organizations.
We
also
run
a
Vita
free
tax
preparation
site.
Thank
you
for
inviting
us
to
testify
on
this
important
bill.
Sabo
supports
allowing
more
than
62,000
Philadelphia
households
currently
living
in
poverty
to
be
reimbursed
for
what
they
pay
in
city
wage
taxes.
F
This
bill
is
especially
important
to
the
Latino
community,
the
poorest
ethnic
group
in
the
nation's
poorest,
big
city,
the
median
household
income
in
the
1:9
133,
which
is
the
heart
of
the
Latino
community.
There's
only
fourteen
thousand
one
hundred
and
fifty
eight
dollars
for
working
family
of
four.
That's
not
enough
to
keep
the
lights
on
beyond
the
establishment
of
a
locally
ITC.
This
bill
would
magnify
the
federal
EITC
s
well-documented,
long-term
positive
effects
on
children.
F
Numerous
studies,
some
of
them
catalogued
by
the
CDC,
have
found
that
the
EITC
has
kept
more
children
living
above
the
poverty
line
than
any
other
tax
credit
program.
For
example,
a
local
AITC
program
in
Montgomery
County
Maryland,
adopted
in
1998,
decreased
the
probability
of
low
birth
weight
in
babies
by
up
to
2.4
percentage
points
in
likely
eligible
families.
F
The
EITC,
as
has
been
already
said,
will
also
decrease
the
heavy
tax
burden
borne
by
low-income
workers.
People
who
live
in
Philadelphia
pay
the
highest
tax
burden,
eighteen
percent
of
any
metro
area
in
the
u.s.
I'm,
considering
wage
property
sales
and
auto
taxes.
City's
leadership
can
be
sensitive
to
the
tax
burdens
borne
by
big
businesses.
F
To
take
that
into
consideration
and
marshal
efforts
to
forge
plans
and
implement
tax
cuts
to
attract
big
corporations
like
Amazon
to
Philadelphia,
then
the
city
has
the
capacity
to
muster
ways
to
implement
a
local
EITC
to
help
low-wage
working
families
stay
in
Philadelphia
we're
committed
to
equitable
economic
development.
Then
we
must
aim
to
encourage
workers
to
live
in
the
city.
At
the
same
time
that
we
seek
to
encourage
large
corporations
to
come
to
the
city.
A
local
EITC
is
also
a
good
investment.
F
The
ITC's
incentivize
low-income
individuals
to
enter
the
labor
force
and
reimbursements
of
city
wage
taxes
will
bolster
the
economies
of
Philadelphia's
poorest
families
for
most
families
who
qualify.
The
federal
EITC
represents
the
single
largest
payment
they
will
receive
in
a
year
a
local
AITC
refund.
Even
if
it's
just
a
few
hundred
dollars
can
make
all
the
difference
for
poor
working
family.
This
makes
the
local
AITC
a
powerful
weapon
in
the
arsenal
that
City
Council
is
building
to
help
low-income
philadelphians.
We
had
special
committee
on
poverty,
prevention
and
reduction.
F
Philadelphia
is
supposed
to
make
the
most
out
of
a
local
AITC.
United
Way
has
marshaled
a
collective,
a
strong
community
based
organizations,
including
ceiba
and
others
present
here
today,
to
provide
free,
Volunteer,
Income,
Tax,
Assistance
services
to
help
low-income
families,
prepare
their
tax
return
and
therefore
access
to
the
federal
EITC,
the
state
special
tax
forgiveness
program,
and
hopefully
this
program,
we've
also
taken
it
upon
ourselves
this
year
to
file
the
Philadelphia
income
based
wage
tax
refund
paperwork
for
some
of
our
low-income
clientele.
We
do
this
for
free.
F
In
many
cases,
the
refund
comes
out
to
less
than
$1,
not
even
the
cost,
not
even
covering
the
cost
of
mailing.
The
forms
down
to
downtown
the
Department
of
Revenue
and
the
city
has
also
shown
great
leadership
in
this
area
by
working
with
Vita
sites.
Accordingly,
the
Department
of
Revenue
and
Vita
sites
can
collaborate
to
help
implement
this
program.
F
Save
was
happy
to
sit
here
in
support
of
our
friends
at
the
benefit:
Data
trust,
United,
Way,
PA,
CDC,
reinvestment
fund
and
our
friends
of
the
campaign
for
working
families
and
calling
on
city
council
to
help
the
Philadelphia
families
that
need
it.
The
most
thank
you
for
your
attention
to
this
matter.
Thank
you.
N
Good
afternoon,
chairperson
Green
and
vice-chair
Heenan
and
other
members
of
council
and
committee,
my
name
is
Beth
McConnell
and
the
policy
director
at
the
Philadelphia
Association
of
Community
Development
Corporation's
here
to
testify
in
support
of
number
two:
zero:
zero
zero
one.
Six
as
you've
heard
and,
as
you
know,
a
single
mom
with
two
kids
could
get
up
to
six
hundred
and
fifty
five
dollars
into
her
pocket
every
year.
If
this
bill
were
to
pass
tax,
refund
programs
like
this
benefit
people
and
the
places
that
they
live.
N
Research
on
the
impact
of
the
federal
EITC
showed
that,
for
every
one
dollar
returned
to
low-income
taxpayers,
a
dollar
58
was
generated
in
local
economic
activity.
Beneficiaries
spend
the
money
on
necessities
back,
rent
and
utilities,
car
repair,
clothing
and,
in
some
cases,
educational
or
training
opportunities
to
raise
their
earning
potential.
N
If
this
refund
program
returned
as
many
as
much
as
25
or
26
million
I
know
that
sudden
the
high
end
to
the
pockets
of
philadelphians,
some
of
that
money
is
going
to
be
spent
on
our
neighborhood
commercial
corridors,
boosting
small
businesses,
enhancing
our
community
development
strategies
and
generating
sales
and
business
taxes.
Just
for
context,
we
spend
about
thirty
million
dollars
a
year
on
our
of
our
Community
Development
Block
Grant,
our
CDBG
funds
every
year
on
programs
and
services
to
improve
our
neighborhoods
through
Housing
and
Economic
Development
activity.
N
So
25
million
is
a
pretty
significant
investment
if
we
were
to
achieve
full
utilization.
Taxing
the
wages
of
people
at
or
near
poverty
runs
counter
to
efforts
by
this
council
and
the
Kenny
administration
to
make
serious
headway
in
reducing
our
shamefully
high
poverty
rate.
The
wage
tax
refund
program
proposed
and
championed
by
councilmember
Dom
in
this
bill
is
exactly
the
kind
of
the
equitable
development
policy
that
we
need
to
ensure
that
our
city's
growth
and
revitalization
is
benefiting
the
people
that
need
it.
N
The
most
we
urge
mayor
Kenny
to
sign
this
bill
and
ensure
the
systems
and
resources
are
in
place
to
get
as
close
to
a
hundred
percent
utilization
as
possible,
including
adequate
outreach
among
English
and
non-english
speaking
workers,
PA
CDC's
network
of
nonprofits
that
help
residents
with
tax
prep
housing,
counseling
and
other
assistance
programs
stand
ready
to
be
part
of
those
efforts.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify.
Thank.
P
Thank
You
councilman
green
and
your
team
for
listening
today
to
our
concerns
our
thoughts
about
why
this
is
so
important.
It's
important
because
right
now
we're
in
the
midst
of
a
crisis
and
the
crisis
is
survival.
It's
how
do
our
the
people
that
we
serve?
How
do
the
individuals
that
we
serve
the
families
we
serve?
How
do
they
actually
survive?
How
do
we
give
them
hope?
How
do
we
give
them
an
opportunity
to
further
voices
to
be
heard?
So,
thank
you
very
much
for
this
opportunity.
P
The
African
American
Chamber
of
Commerce
for
Pennsylvania,
New,
Jersey
and
Delaware
is
a
membership
organization
committed
to
supporting
the
economic,
empowerment
and
growth
of
minority
businesses
located
in
South,
Jersey,
North,
Delaware
and,
of
course,
Pennsylvania
southeastern
Pennsylvania
I'm.
Writing
you
in
and
I'm
testifying
today,
also
in
the
capacity
as
the
president
CEO
for
the
African
American
Chamber
and
in
in
Tom's
a
article
that
he
wrote
in
The
Inquirer
his
opinion
piece
called
low
income
families.
P
It
was
very
interesting
because
it
talked
about
giving
back,
and
this
is
very
important
because
in
Philadelphia,
as
you
already
know,
this
crisis
is
more
than
just
a
financial
one.
It's
one
where
you
see
a
lot
of
large
businesses
actually
had.
You
know
getting
to
higher
levels
and
heights
as
we
talk
about
these
Amazons
and
other
large
companies
that
are
being
attracted,
but
we
don't
really
talk
so
much
about
the
small
businesses
which
actually
make
up
the
majority
of
the
activity
in
the
city.
So
this
this
is
all
about
giving
back.
P
It's
all
about
actually
acknowledging
a
constituency.
You
know
a
group
of
individuals
that
really
feel
like
they're
underserved
in
many
ways,
and
so
when
we
talk
about
the
statistics,
you
know
18
1
18.1%,
that
represents
you,
know:
45
15,
4515
dollars
out
of
25,000
dollars.
That's
ridiculous
for
the
City
of
Brotherly,
Love
and
sisterly.
Love
now
think
about
that
for
a
moment
as
we
consider
our
brother
and
sister
cities
like
Chicago
at
14.3%,
Los
Angeles
at
13.9%,
New
York
City
at
12.2%
Phoenix
at
11%.
P
P
New
proposed
legislation,
a
family
of
four
living
in
Philadelphia,
with
a
gross
annual
income
of
thirty
four
thousand
two
hundred
fifty
would
be
able
to
receive
a
refund
of
almost
an
entire
amount
of
their
wages
that
they
normally
get
paid.
That's
an
extra
check
with
that
extra
check.
You've
already
heard
testimony
about
what
they
would
do
with
it
often
is
dealing
with
just
living,
nothing
really
in
a
way
of
advancing
but
just
continuing
to
survive.
P
When
we
have
issues
around
gentrification
around
our
business
corridors
around
blight
things
that
matter
just
survival
is
something
of
hope
in
this
city.
Now
we
have
to
evolve
beyond
that,
but
the
reality
is.
Is
that
just
getting
something
of
a
give
back,
so
the
city's
overwhelming
majority
is
absolutely
necessary.
This
is
not
just
something
that
makes
sense
from
a
economic
standpoint.
It
makes
sense
from
a
moral
standpoint.
P
We
need
to
make
sure
that
again
in
this
city,
that
we
acknowledge
all
of
our
constituents
and
that
we
understand
that
we,
you
know
that
we
actually
demonstrate
by
way
of
these
types
of
I,
would
guess
I
would
say
it's
a
gesture.
This
is
a
start.
There
are
a
lot
more
things
that
we
should
do,
but
I
believe
at
the
end
of
the
day.
This
is
a
great
start
for
2020
in
terms
of
introducing
legislation
that
acknowledges
a
consistency.
That
is
it's
floundering
right
now.
P
The
eggs
ACC
joins
the
rank
of
countless
other
stakeholders
who
strongly
believe
that
your
tax
with
this
wage
tax
are.
We
bill
should
be
added
to
Philadelphia's
arsenal
of
initiatives
in
programs
designed
to
reduce
the
number
of
people
living
in
poverty.
The
refunds
can
be
used
to
pay
off
life-sustaining
goods
and
services
such
as
housing,
food
transportation,
you've
heard
of
this
earlier
in
other
testimonies.
P
That
would
also
improve
the
lives
of
citizens
most
in
need,
while
generating
economic
stimulus
that
will
benefit
community
development,
not
just
community
development,
business
corridor
development,
the
development
also
of
what
I
would
say,
an
actual
opportunity
for
them
to
leverage
these
couple
of
dollars
into
something
else.
Many
small
businesses
actually
don't
take
a
lot
of
money
to
actually
invest
in
the
average
business.
To
start
actually
takes
a
couple
hundred
dollars
literally
we're
talking
about
from
setting
up
your
bank
account
getting
your
ein,
set
some
marketing
material
and
getting
going
so
literally.
P
What
you're
talking
about
is
the
infusion
of
not
just
hope,
but
also
you
know
survival,
but
also
the
opportunity
for
small
businesses
to
continue
to
flourish.
There's
there's
no
mistaken
that
when
they
get
that
money,
where
that
money
is
going,
that
money's
not
going
to
buy
a
new
car
is
going
to
that
corner
store
is
going
to
that
business
corridor.
It's
going
to
support
these
other
businesses
that
are
growing
in
a
very
healthy
way
and
need
to
continue
to
get
that
to
get
that
support
from
their
community.
P
With
that
being
said,
when
those
businesses
are
growing,
then
it
also
leads
to
additional
jobs.
It
also
leads
to
blight
being
something
that
becomes
on
the
downturn,
as
opposed
to
increasing
in
certain
in
certain
areas
of
the
city,
and
so
thank
you
very
much
for
the
opportunity
to
provide
some
additional
context
for
why
this
buildings
to
be
passed.
H
A
E
A
Been
moved
and
properly
seconded
to
that
bill
number
two:
zero:
zero,
zero
one
six
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
it
will
the
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
fitting
of
this
bill.
The
next
session
of
council
all
doesn't
favor.
This
motion,
please
signify
by
saying
aye
aye
any
opposed
hearing
none
the
eyes
have
it
in
motion
carries
bill
number
two:
zero,
zero,
zero
one
six
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation.
E
A
Hear
a
second
thank
you.
It
has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
bill
number
2,
0,
0,
1
1
7,
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
the
further
move
that
the
rule
to
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session
of
council.
All
those
in
favor
of
this
motion,
please
signify
by
saying
aye
aye
any
opposed
hearing.
None
I
have
into
motion,
carries
bill
number
twos
zero
one.
A
One
seven
will
report
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
would
requested
a
rule
that
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
meeting
at
the
next
session
of
council.
This
concludes
the
business
of
the
Committee
on
Finance.
For
today.
Thank
you
for
your
attendance
Thank
You
council
members
participation
and
have
a
great
day.