Before it is consigned to the dustbin of history, it might be worthwhile to glance at the
report issued by Mayor Nutter's Task Force on Tax Policy & Economic Competitiveness. In many ways, it is deja vu all over again -- like previous tax study commissions it says Philadelphia's taxes are too high and hurt job growth. Like other tax study commissions, it recommends further cuts in wage and business taxes. (see Brett Mandel's piece on the commission on this site) But, the committee makes one original observation: Philadelphia taxes are too high on things that are mobile and not high enough on things that can't move. People and businesses can and do move from the city. Houses and office towers and commercial buildings can't. So, this commission argues, the city should tax these properties to make up for the losses incurred by lowering wage and business taxes.
