Budget Fuss: Property, tobacco taxes move ahead; sugar a no-go so far

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Budget Fuss: Property, tobacco taxes move ahead; sugar a no-go so far

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 11:39 PM

In a marathon session, City Council moved ahead on a 9.9 percent property tax hike, a tax on smokeless tobacco and cigars, and withheld a bill that would impose the mayor's baby: the sweetened beverage tax.

It seemed earlier in the day like that tax was going to pass – but Council leadership was unable, apparently, to muster the nine votes needed. The administration,  however, hasn't given up on the soda tax by a long shot.

Councilman Frank DiCicco, who proposed the first property tax hike as an alternative to a flat $300 trash fee, voted "no" on the 9.9 percent hike today, favoring a 12.1 percent property tax hike that would have made up most of the difference.

Council also approved a spending bill with about $17 million in cuts, disappointing Councilman Bill Green, who has proposed more than $40 in cuts himself, mostly by not filling unfilled positions.

Right now, Council will have to find about $18 million more in revenue or in cuts.

These bills have just passed first reading – they'll need to pass again next week to become law.

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