Philadelphia, October 23, 2009 – Today Mayor Michael A. Nutter accepted the report, “Thinking Beyond Today: A Path to Prosperity,” generated by the Task Force on Tax Policy and Economic Competitiveness.  This Task Force was convened by the Mayor in February of 2009 and charged with making recommendations to him and Council President Anna C. Verna on improving Philadelphia’s competitiveness.  Their report identifies shifting the tax burden from the mobile to the immobile tax bases as necessary to make Philadelphia a place with more opportunities for employment and wealth creation for city residents and a city where new businesses can easily form and existing ones can grow.

“I thank the members of the Task Force for their thoughtful and innovative analysis of Philadelphia’s current tax structure and real estate development climate,” said Mayor Nutter.  “I think we can all agree that an improved mix of taxes is essential to the economic growth of our City and region.”

The Task Force was comprised of 17 members of various backgrounds who are business, academic, and community leaders.  Over the last 8 months the group met repeatedly, including two public hearings where individuals who live, work, or visit Philadelphia were welcome to share their thoughts on the City’s tax structure and real estate environment.  The final version of the report cited several administrative and legislative changes as necessary to supporting a thriving local economy: removing barriers to business attraction, improving the property assessment system, clarifying interactions between businesses and government, increasing government efficiency, improving tax collection, and better utilizing public resources to spur real estate development.

“I thank the members of the Task Force for their hard work on this project.  Now that the report is complete, my Council colleagues and I look forward to carefully examining the recommendations they have made,” said Council President Verna.

The Task Force was be chaired by Harold T. Epps, President and CEO of PRWT Services, Inc., a nationally recognized minority-owned enterprise headquartered in Philadelphia and the largest minority owned business in the Greater Philadelphia Region.  Mr. Epps is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition.

“Mayor Nutter challenged us to help improve the quality of life and financial well-being of Philadelphians today and in the years to come,” said Mr. Epps. “Taking reasonable risks is the only way to achieve the transformational change and alter our current path of continuous decline.”

To access the final report and appendix please visit the Task Force’s website: www.phila.gov/TaxPolicy

Membership:

Harold T. Epps, (Chair) President and CEO of PRWT Services, Inc.

Joseph Dworetzky, (Vice Chair) Shareholder of Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin

Joe Ashdale, Business Representative for D.C. 21

Thomas Callan, Managing Director for BlackRock's Global Opportunities

Della Clark, President of The Enterprise Center

Pelayo Coll, Partner at Blank Rome

Anthony J. Conti, CPA, Managing Partner, Philadelphia Office, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Wendi Kotzen, Partner at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP

Michael Horsey, CPA, Managing Partner of Mitchell & Titus LLP

Randy Hutchinson, Manager of State/Local Taxes, Sunoco (retired)

Robert Inman, PhD, Finance Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Paul R. Levy, President and CEO of Center City District (CCD)

Matthew Melinson, CPA, Managing Director at SMART Business Advisory and
Consulting, LLC

Kathleen O’Brien, Partner at Montgomery McCracken

Angelo Perryman, President and CEO of Perryman Building and Construction Services

Janet Ryder, Vice President of Labor Participation for the Philadelphia Council AFL–CIO

Wayne W. Williams, Department Chair of Economics and Accounting at the Community College of Philadelphia