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I didn't downvote it, but you omit an import issue: Amazon coming will also increase expenses for the city -- police, fire protection, sewers, etc. Tax revenue
by adamc 9y ago
I didn't downvote it, but you omit an import issue: Amazon coming will also increase expenses for the city -- police, fire protection, sewers, etc. Tax revenue exists to pay for these things. It is not unreasonable to worry about whether the net effect of giving big tax breaks and bringing in a company like Amazon will be negative.
- ameister14 9y agoHalf of Philadelphia's General Fund revenue comes from wage taxes. That ends up being 1/6th of the budget of Philadelphia and 2/7 of the revenue for the city. While it isn't unreasonable to worry that the net effect of lowering the business income and real estate taxes applied to Amazon would result in a negative tax/expense ratio, when applied holistically and including the other taxes, it's also not unreasonable to think the city revenue will increase, particularly when you add in related businesses.
- nerfhammer 9y agopopulation of philadelphia: 1.56 million supposed HQ2 employees: 50,000 I suspect that the sewers won't overflow, new crime waves, extra fires, etc. There may be impact on transit in a few specific areas, but in terms of total population impact it's difficult to believe that it would noticeably impact the budget in any particular city service. Except for transit.