Following Mayor Cherelle Parker‘s inaugural Budget Address in March* (recap below), City Council’s FY25 Budget hearings commenced the week of March 25, 2024. They concluded on May 5, 2024, with the goal of finalizing the city’s FY25 Budget in the coming weeks. Recent highlights from Council’s hearings include:  

  • The Department of Commerce, a Chamber partner, showcased its PHL Open for Business and Taking Care of Business programs, which aim to cut red tape for entrepreneurs and enhance retail districts.   
  • The Department of Finance emphasized the importance of supporting Mayor Parker’s education and public safety priorities without compromising fiscal health. It also highlighted Mayor Parker’s proposal to shift a more significant portion of real estate tax revenue to the Philadelphia School District, which officials said demonstrated a commitment to fueling educational advancements through economic growth.  
  • The Department of Revenue focused on refining the efficiency of tax collection and ensuring that tax relief measures are equitable. During the discussions, some members of Council, including Councilmembers Isaiah Thomas and Anthony Phillips, publicly advocated for further reducing the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) and the Wage Tax. They emphasized that lower taxes will boost Philadelphia’s appeal to businesses looking to locate or expand here, thereby widening the tax base, enhancing economic vitality, and supporting business expansion and job creation throughout the city.  

City Council will spend the next few weeks reviewing the insights, questions, and community feedback gathered during these discussions. The Chamber will continue to be present at City Hall and behind the scenes – advocating on behalf of our regional business community – throughout the process. The final passage of the budget measures package is expected to come before City Council adjourns for the summer on Thursday, June 13, 2024.  

Your Support is Needed to Further BIRT and Wage Tax Reductions

As we enter the final weeks of the city’s FY25 Budget cycle, Philadelphia is at a pivotal moment where the business community’s insight and leadership are more crucial than ever. The Chamber and Inclusive Growth Coalition (IGC) continue to advocate for increased reductions in the City Wage and Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) through our #EndTheDoubleTax lobbying campaign.   

The Chamber urges your support of this critical tax reform that will help us to grow businesses and bring more good-paying jobs to the city. You can take these simple steps to make your voice heard:   

  • Send Letters of Support to City Council: Utilize our one-click campaign to send direct emails to all Council members in support of continued Wage and BIRT reductions in the FY25 budget.   
  • Share Your Story: Please take a moment to complete this brief survey to engage more deeply in our advocacy efforts. Your stories are powerful tools for change, and we are eager to hear how our city’s core issues resonate with you and impact your business. We seek your continued participation in a storytelling project highlighting the real-world impact of our three core issues impacting local companies.   
  • Stay Informed and Engaged: Visit the IGC website to join, register to receive email communications, and follow us on social media.  

The IGC is a collaborative and united partnership of stakeholders from the city’s diverse Chambers of Commerce, business leaders, and organizations advocating for the interests of Philadelphia’s businesses. We are dedicated to creating a safe, clean, and vibrant business environment in our city that supports a higher quality of life. 

Why Quality of Life Matters  

The Chamber convenes our members, partners, and civic leaders around important quality of life issues impacting our city – a commitment that aligns with Mayor Parker’s key priorities. Central to this important work is collaboration among stakeholders, whose support drives the success of initiatives aimed at inclusively revitalizing Philadelphia’s commercial corridors and public spaces. 

On April 26, 2024, the Chamber hosted 145 attendees at our Advancing Inclusive Strategies for Economic Growth: A Civic Issues Forum, the second in a series of Civic Issues Forums started this year.  The discussion was led by Bill Golderer, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (UWGPSNJ), with insights from panelists Donna Allie, President and CEO of Team Clean, Inc., Jennifer Gilburg, Deputy Secretary of Technology and Entrepreneurship at the PA Department of Community & Economic Development (PA DCED), Reverand Marshall Paul Hughes Mitchell from Salem Baptist Church, and Councilmember Anthony Phillips.  

Among other related topics, panelists discussed ways to make the business environment in the city more dynamic, focusing on making operations smoother, improving the city’s livability, and reducing business costs – including advocating for a more competitive tax structure through BIRT and Wage reductions. Throughout the discussion, each panelist stressed the importance of community service, the need for continuous conversation and action, and the importance of working collaboratively to implement equity-based strategies to enhance inclusivity and economic growth for all.

Our collective commitment to building a greener city and safer, more vibrant communities showcases the business community’s important role in building an inclusive city that is a great place to live, work, and do business. 

Join Us in Our Advocacy Efforts 

To join the Chamber and the IGC in our advocacy efforts, please contact Ashley Miscevich, Manager, Local Government Advocacy and Engagement, at amiscevich@chamberphl.com.

You can also join the Chamber at one of our upcoming advocacy events: June 11, 2024, for our virtual City Hall Connectors: Public Safety and Clean & Green Initiatives forum and June 25, 2024, for our virtual City Hall Connectors: Commerce Director Alba Martinez forum. YPC members are invited to attend our YPC Exclusive: Unplugged with the Mayor, featuring a candid discussion with Mayor Cherelle Parker in person on June 26, 2024.

*Mayor’s Budget Address Recap

On March 14, 2024, Mayor Cherelle Parker introduced the “One Philly” FY25 Budget & Five-Year Plan, centered around bringing people together and helping the city grow through innovation and inclusivity. Specific initiatives and goals proposed by Mayor Parker included:   

  • Public Safety: $150 million in the Operating Budget and $471 million in the Capital Plan (more than $600 million combined) for investments in public safety, including hiring an additional 400 police officers, improved 911 staffing, and technology upgrades.  
  • Clean and Green: $130 million for neighborhood and residential cleaning and greening initiatives, including citywide expansion of a neighborhood commercial corridor cleaning program and increased funding allocated for street cleaning and combatting illegal dumping.  
  • Economic Opportunity: The budget includes nearly $20 million in new operating investments in economic opportunity, including an Accelerator Fund and boosted funding for the Innovate Capital Growth Fund, which provides diverse entrepreneurs with access to equity investments.  
  • Business Community Outreach: Mayor Parker announced plans for a Business Roundtable to convene every local Chamber of Commerce, business leaders, and community-based business owners. According to the Mayor’s Office, the goal is “to develop an agenda to help grow Philadelphia’s workforce, provide access to economic opportunity, and create jobs.”  
  • Education: The “One Philly” budget makes more than $24 million in new operating investments in education, with $140 million over the life of the Five-Year Plan.  
  • Housing: The budget supports Mayor Parker’s goal of creating 30,000 new units of housing, including affordable housing, through investments in existing programs such as Turn the Key, Restore, Repair, Renew, and the Basic Systems Repair program.