It's Our Money's Ben Waxman had a nice set of factors that might make the sales tax hike get accepted in Harrisburg called "Selling the Sales Tax," including my favorite weird rationale that started with Mrs. Verna: the higher rate will help business elsewhere.

Who thinks this will pass? Why do people think the silence has been deafening on this phase of the process? And hey, Ben, who the heck is CleanUpPhilly?

Where do we go from here? Down to the lake I fear.

For the record this is my screed on the sales tax issue right now.

The question unasked in all of this is: How in the face of declining receipts at a 7% rate, will more revenue get collected at a higher 8%? State-wide, receipts from the sales tax dropped $100 million below estimate, to about $600 million. In Philly itself the decline is 6.7%.

With the news that the Mayor and City Council are in a fuddle over what to do with the Bureau of Revision of Taxes, here's one place to start:

TAKE THE BRT EMPLOYEES OFF THE SCHOOL PAYROLL

Why is it relevant to the situation before the city?

• According to the District's FY10 budget book (p. 332), the BRT expenses have actually increased this year by 17% and will again next year a nominal amount. Their behavior can't be rewarded.

• The School District houses 80 employees, between a third and 40% of the total number of BRT employees. That's a sizeable figure.

• Because city ethic laws prohibit political hires, many of the most political people on the BRT land on the school payroll - like ward leader Donna Aument, or "clerks" Helyn Cheeks, David Shadding, and Lorenzo McCray all of whom were mentioned by name in Monday's unbelievable "BRT serves as political jobs bank" story. In fact, according to our studies, at least 40% of School District employees, hold political positions as ward or committee leaders.

• Putting them back onto the city payroll clears a $4.5 million burden on the schools - AND helps offset the fact that the city is delivering $10 million less in funds to the schools anyway - AND forces the political hires off the BRT payroll or loses them the plum political assignments that appeared to be the primary qualification for "clerkship."

There's no question something needs to be done about this agency - especially and because of the Mayor's proposed property tax hike and the Actual Value Initiative. But calls from one extreme (abolish the BRT!) to another (let's wait!) shouldn't hide the fact that one move could strike a quick blow to the BRT's system of operation.

(Cross-posted at the Notebook's blog)

Anytime the School District has to summon a line-up of politicians to testify on its behalf, you know something’s up.

On Wednesday night, a group of political heavy-hitters opened the School Reform Commission meeting to urge the SRC to vote in favor of the District’s controversial strategic plan – Imagine 2014. Meanwhile CEO Arlene Ackerman issued dramatic statements that emphasized just how much pressure the District was exerting on the SRC for its vote:

"Tonight is the night that we demonstrate to [children] that we care . . . Tonight is the night the School Reform Commission acts on behalf of all of our children," Ackerman said during the meeting, which drew a capacity audience to the District's headquarters on Broad Street near Spring Garden.

And vote they did, 4-0 with hardly a question asked. Not one clarifying remark was made by a single commissioner to explain why each had voted on a plan that had generated lukewarm enthusiasm and enough controversy to result in last-minute plan adjustments, community meetings, a new budget, and political muscling.

Which makes one wonder: what happened behind closed doors to put the muzzle on the SRC?

After all, last fall’s show about making the Gallery the sworn choice for a Center City slots joint was a tough act to follow. No plan, no design, no studies, no financing, but Council was able to ram through rezoning a 16-square block area before they could blink.

A city planning commission vote was such a rubber stamp at least two Planning Commission members voted not to oppose the project by shrugging their shoulders. After 1,000 people marched in the streets and 60 citizens gave five hours worth of testimony at a packed Saturday Council hearing, Council committee members unanimously voted to move a motion forward and left the room before we had picked up all the signs and banners from the seats. Council acted similarly in waiving requirements to speed up the final casino zoning vote. Except for a brief comment by Councilman Curt Jones Jr. and a classic reprimand by Council President Verna – “nothing you say can change this vote” – nothing referenced the concerns that a distraught community had raised for weeks. The same held true for the Mayor when he came in on a Sunday morning to sign the legislation for the Gallery zoning into law, less than 24 hours after meeting with community members.

So how can City leaders possibly top that?

Let’s review the huddle conversation.

In a shocking turn of events, both the Inquirer and the Daily News are reporting that School Reform Commission Chair Sandra Dungee Glenn may be off the SRC. Media reports say that she may be replaced by attorney Robert Archie.

A few weeks back, on the Public School Notebook’s blog, I wrote about the baffling secrecy and lack of transparency around choosing the members of the School Reform Commission, the city/state oversight body for the Philadelphia public schools.

In fact, a School Reform Commission appointment is probably one of the least transparent processes in the School District of Philadelphia. Decided upon in backdoor rooms, at the sole discretion of either the Governor or the Mayor, lacking any written set of responsibilities and expectations, and largely absent public standards for avoiding ethical and financial conflicts of interest, the Commission appointments have long baffled most parents and education observers.

Unfortunately, if true, the departure of Sandra Dungee Glenn won't do much to alleviate those concerns. Here are a couple of reasons why:

Michael Nutter had it right when he was a candidate. He not only actively supported keeping casinos out of neighborhoods he rightly stated that casinos are bad economic development and that he would not use their revenue for government services, no matter how worthy these services are. As a candidate and in his first year as Mayor, Nutter was poised to become a champion, to stand up to the predatory gambling trade and the corrupt governor, Senator, legislature and Supreme Court that has been pushing for years to make Philadelphia the largest US city to host casinos.

Following up on Brady's post ("Due Credit") on the ACORN action (and it looks like he beat me to it this morning, as I was typing) against the Eagles for the $9.6+ million owed in back luxury box revenue, I wanted to post on Mayor Nutter taking it to another set of tax deadbeats

And so we’re back here again:

Harrisburg is losing patience. Rendell yesterday said that he was "disappointed" that the city's two casinos are not open. Rendell added that he would have to "weigh very heavily" any legislation proposed to strip Philadelphia of gaming-tax benefits.

Or in case you didn’t hear him clearly enough:

Thanks to Hannah for already linking to this New York Times article, but this really is worth a more in-depth look:

PHILADELPHIA — Mayor Michael A. Nutter said Tuesday that Philadelphia would have to raise taxes or fees to close its budget deficit.

"We can’t just cut our way out of this situation," Mr. Nutter said in an interview with WHYY radio. "We will have to consider very seriously some form of revenue enhancement."

This new rhetoric from the Mayor comes following the publication of PennPraxis’ report on the recent citywide budget hearings. The summary of the talks is incredibly encouraging of the sensibility and humanity of a majority of Philadelphians – and not surprising for those of us on YPP who commissioned a poll months back that yielded similar conclusions. The difference is of course that this report hit the national news as a city that is demanding other options.

The report says that the majority of people:

• don't want services cut

• will pay more in taxes if they have to

• want to ease the tax burden on low-income people

• and would consider alternative correction opportunities for non-violent offenders if it could mean closing a city jail.

"Given a chance to confront the tough tradeoffs, most citizens opted to tax themselves — while struggling to give a tax break to those less fortunate," said a report by the Project for Civic Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania, which organized the meetings.

Working groups concluded that residents would be prepared — though reluctant — to pay higher taxes on sales, wages, real estate transfers, businesses and parking, said the report, published late Monday.

That's pretty amazing.

What’s most encouraging though is that in times of crisis, people want to know that government is there to take care of core and essential services that benefit and protect not only the majority of its residents but especially the most vulnerable.

It's great to be a part of this city.

Another Philadelphia police officer has been gunned down in the line of duty, this time in an apparent shoot-out last night in front of the Olney Transportation Center.

Officer John Pawlowski, 25, whose wife, Kim, is expecting their first child, was killed after he and his partner responded to a report of a "fight on the highway" on Broad Street near Olney Avenue.

Police said the gunman approached the cabbie and demanded money about 8 p.m. The cabbie warned he would call police and the man responded: "If you call the cops, I'm shooting you and the cops. The cabbie went ahead and called police, and pointed out the gunman to Pawlowski and his partner after they arrived, police said. As the officers approached the gunman, he lifted a .357 Magnum handgun, firing through his clothing, and striking the officer in the chest.

Far be it for me to stop the Eagles mourning process on YPP, but before inauguration frenzy dominates the site, this AP wire story ran last week announcing the House Dems' $825 billion economic stimulus package. Last month, the Nutter administration submitted a $2.6 billion appeal for federal help - an appeal that, unfortunately, got less than favorable attention due to a $125 million request for casino-related development.

On the plus side the plan will hopefully impact "virtually everyone" in the U.S.:

A $500 tax cut would reach 95 percent of workers and $1,000 for working couples. First-time home buyers purchasing homes between Jan. 1 and June 30 would get a $7,500 tax credit, and local school districts would be spared severe cuts as state and local governments budgets collapse , to the tune of $120 billion over the next two years. States would get $87 billion worth of help with their Medicaid budgets over the next two years.

But even pols have their limits:

To avoid embarrassment, the measure says specifically that the money can't "be used for any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course or swimming pool."

As the City begins laying out dollars for consultants in anticipation of a casino and PA Dems plan gambling's expansion, let's hope that the stimulus money will help us focus on the priorities that benefit all Philadelphians.

Here's some easy reading.

This Freakonomics article refers to a supposed "public library renaissance," and links to a Boston globe article purporting libraries to being a sort of recession sanctuary.

Just thought I'd quickly link to some nationally-read literature regarding the prevailing topic at hand, in case you might have missed them.

I've attached some documents of the actual criteria used by Siobhan Reardon and the Free Library to decide on the 11 Reardon and Mayor Nutter are slating for closure.

Firstly, thanks to Sam Durso for obtaining those documents at the first of the town hall meetings in South Philly High School. Secondly, there are more documents. A general "Vision Statement" for the Free Library System, for example, and maps of the individual City Council districts showing the closings. According to Reardon's comments to Sam, City Council districts were the "last thing" considered in picking the 11 closings but the mere presence of the maps being generated would indicate that the Council districts was obviously a consideration.

This Saturday, "It's Our Money" will be teaming up with "It's Our City" to record a half hour program on the budget crisis.

Dave Davies will interview the mayor and want also want questions from you. What would you ask Mayor Nutter about the budget crisis if you had the chance?

As you probably know, Philadelphia is facing a deficit of $108 million
for FY09 and a potential shortfall of $1 billion over the next five
years. Mayor Nutter has announced drastic budget cuts, including
shutting down 20% of the city's libraries, closing almost all pools
during the summer, ending residential street cleaning, and more.

Does anyone have bold steps that Philadelphia could take to deal with
the fiscal crisis, as an alternative to the service cuts and other
measures being proposed by Nutter?

For example: city taxpayers pick up the tab for the First Judicial
District of Pennsylvania, even though the court system is supposed to
be funded by the state. Want if Mayor Nutter simply said no? It would
save the city about $116 million and send a powerful message to
Harrisburg.

Do you have suggestions for bold ideas to deal with the budget crisis?