Philadelphia Budget Challenge

The first results from the Philadelphia Budget Challenge are in. Here's a few tidbits from the inbox:

The Economy League of Greater Philadelphia released a report today of the budget choices citizens made during the first 30 days of the Philadelphia Budget Challenge, its web-based, interactive budget balancing program and educational tool. The Challenge was undertaken more than 1,400 times during the first month after its launch on March 23, 2009. Through June 7, the Challenge was taken more than 3,000 times.

Key findings include:

* 43% of those taking the Challenge arrived at a balanced budget or a surplus; 57% finished with a deficit.
* 66% chose to raise the Sales Tax. Of those, more than half chose a 1% increase (the proposal now in the hands of Harrisburg) and slightly fewer than half opted for a 0.1% increase.
* More than 70% of Challenge-takers did not cut funding for the Police and Fire Departments.
* Regarding the city's pension fund problem, 67% percent chose to change the return rate assumptions (8.75% to 8.25%) and time frame (from 5 to 10 years), and 33% chose to keep it as is.
* A more than two-thirds majority were not in favor or raising Business Privilege Taxes or Wage Taxes.

Details are available on the Economy League's website.