New Poll Shows Philadelphians Willing to Pay More for Services
According to a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center Charitable Trusts, Philadelphians are increasingly worried about the local tax burden. But if we need to pay more, shit, we will.
The survey, conducted between January 4 and January 19, found that 70 percent of residents find city taxes to be a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem. That’s up from 62 last year and 55 the year before. But with that in mind, 49 percent say they’d be willing to pay higher taxes for more city services while 42 percent want to Cut and Cut, or whatever the national Republican motto is these days.
As it pertains to new revenue sources—such as advertising on city-owned property, as proposed by City Council President Darrell Clark—56 percent say they’re in favor, 34 percent opposed. And on the whole, sugary taxes are opposed, 46 percent to 49 percent. Interestingly, whites support the drink tax idea while African Americans and Hispanics oppose it. Last we heard, here, soda interests were still lined up opposed to that particular tax and City Council as successfully squashed it two years in a row. Respondents were not asked about other specific revenue sources, such as Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s idea to keep bars open an hour later, which was essentially shut down after the media decided we’re not responsible enough for such luxuries.



