Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. This concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Madam President. I'll be brief. We are a week away from reporting out the 2010 budget, and I at least two weeks since leadership of Council conveyed to the Administration that there are -there's very little support and a whole lot of "no" votes for any real estate tax at this time. And I don't think we've made any progress on this budget in terms of serious discussions about alternatives to that real estate tax, and I hope we don't lose the four days between now and Monday's hearing when the tax bills will come up before the Committee of the Whole, because if we wait that long, we have three days instead of a week. A week is not very much time to begin with. So I want to go on record as one of those people in Council, one Councilmember who is absolutely opposed to any increase in the real estate tax, and I want to put it on the record today. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. Just to remind you that our Partnership for Prescription Assistance is still available today, as it is after all our Council sessions. Thank you very much.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I'll be brief. In response to Councilman O'Neill's comments, technically we don't have to rush next week. We can always come back on May 28th. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, like to support the comments by Councilman O'Neill. We have presented what we believe is a reasonable solution of this financial crisis that we have to the Mayor. The staffs are talking and the individuals who advise us are talking with both staffs, and I would urge him to listen to reasonable arguments about how our plan could possibly be a part of the budget solution. The other day when we were meeting with our consultants and some of the Councilmembers, Dr. Bernard Anderson gave a very compelling argument about how we can address this issue. It made sense, considering that we are in a very, very serious national crisis and it's not business as usual. We have to come up with creative ways to address the issue. The creative way is not to raise property taxes. And when we had the hearing in my district, all we heard were from -- the from the people from my district said no. And so I too will not be in the mood to support any property taxes. I think there are other alternatives. We ought to look at them and not delay the process for passing this budget.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am a "no" vote for any property tax increase. I would also like that on the record.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to support my Council colleagues that's already addressed this 19 percent. It will cause too much of a hardship on Philadelphians, and as Councilwoman Tasco said, when we had the public hearing out in the 8th and 9th Council districts, that's all we heard all evening was not to raise the taxes. I think during this economic hardship, people expected some increases, some changes, but I don't think the people expected a 19 percent real estate tax increase. I think the tax should be shared across the board, not just on homeowners, and I just believe that this tax will create too much of an additional hardship. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you, Madam President. Since my colleagues are on time, I think it's time I suppose that I should voice my opinion that I absolutely will never vote for any tax increase in the real estate.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Thank you, Madam President. I too am absolutely opposed to any real estate tax at this time. It's the wrong time to do it. I couldn't agree more with my colleagues in Council that have districts, because I've traveled the City through up and down and I don't see any support throughout this city for any property taxes at this time. I want to go on record as opposing it, and I don't care what degree that the Mayor may have in mind, but I'm certainly absolutely against any property taxes. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Similarly, Madam President, no support from me on any increase in property taxes. And we need to keep this process on schedule. We have a schedule and we need to keep it. Thanks.
Thank you. I think that concludes the speeches. I guess we took a poll on property taxes. If there are no further comments, at this time the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 14th, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May the 14th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on May 7, 2009, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)