TESTIMONY OF Stephen F. Jurash, President & CEO Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia
Testimony of Steve Jurash in Support of BIRT Tax Bill
Date: 12/11/13
Philadelphia City Council

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
- December 11, 2013 -

Bill No. 130530



TESTIMONY OF Stephen F. Jurash, President & CEO of the Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia
4500 Worth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124


Good afternoon Chairman Green and members of the Committee on Finance. My name is Stephen Jurash. I am the President & CEO of the Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia, a trade association for the more than 1100 companies that comprise the manufacturing sector of this City.

I am here today to testify in support of Bill 130530, AN ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled Business Income and Receipts Tax.
It has never made a lot of sense to Philadelphia's manufacturers to be penalized for investing their future here in this city. Our companies invest in property, machinery and facilities. They invest in the citizens of this city with salaries more than twice what either the hospitality or retail sectors pay. The average manufacturing wage in Philadelphia is now $61 K per year, yet out of city business are exempt from taxes on sales within the city that our companies are required to pay. It has never made a lot of sense to Philadelphia's manufacturers to be penalized for investing their future here in this city.

We support this Bill because it eliminates the net income portion of the BIRT which is certainly a step in the right direction in that this now levels the playing field for our domestic companies. It is exceedingly rare for cities and other local jurisdictions to tax business income, and it is unheard of, except in Philadelphia, to tax both receipts and income at the local level.
If we value the manufacturing sector of this city, we must remember that every small fee or tax makes it that much more difficult for these companies to survive. Global competition is so intense that manufacturers cant raise prices even though costs keep rising. Manufacturing cannot raise its prices in response to increase costs, as other many other businesses can.

The costs of doing business in the United States, in the Commonwealth and in the City due to externally imposed costs  taxes, legal, regulatory, energy, health care  keep rising. A recent study shows that these costs add about 22 percent to the cost of doing business here, almost equal to the total cost of production in China - one of our most significant competitors.

We urge passage of this Bill because it will help reduce costs for many of our companies.

-END-

Christina Rockwell, Director Membership Services and Legislative Affairs christinar@manufacturingonline.org 215-948-9285 x 105
View other Government Watch Summaries
9/14/11 - Proposed changes to Business Priviledge Taxes in Philadelphia - Benefits manufactures and small businesses Read the full text...
9/14/11 - Reduce tax burdens on existing and new businesses - Steps in the right direction but hiring mandates for benefits may be too much Read the full text...
9/16/11 - Paid Sick Leave Bill in Legislature Again - Public Hearing on the Paid Sick Leave Bill Oct 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM Read the full text...
9/19/11 - American Jobs Act - Overview of American Jobs Act Read the full text...
9/20/11 - Incentives offered to companies through The City of Philadelphia - Incentives for starting, running and growing a business in Philadelphia Read the full text...
10/20/11 -- Business Privilege Tax Reform - Public Hearing for BPT reform set for Monday, October 24th at 1 PM Read the full text...
10/28/11 -- Tackling Vacant Properties - Initiative to Hold Vacant Property Owners Responsible for Blight Read the full text...
10/27/11 -- New Business Privilege Tax Legislation Read the full text...
11/3/11 -- Business Privilege Tax Reform Bills Passed by City Council Read the full text...
11/14/11 -- House passes two bills to help startups and early stage businesses raise capital - Senate Vote Next Challenge Read the full text...
11/15/11 -- Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for Small Employers - -- Health care tax credits not being utilized by small businesses -- Read the full text...
2/14/12 -- Change in Workers' Compensation Overall Cost Read the full text...
2/14/12 -- Certified Safety Committees - Additional five percent discount on annual workers' compensation premiums Read the full text...
2/29/12 -- New Industrial Zoning Classifications Read the full text...
3/8/12 -- Storm Water Mitigation Meeting with City Council Read the full text...
3/12/12 -- New Job Creation Tax Credit Read the full text...
3/15/12 -- Proposed Philadelphia Water Department Rate Increase - Significant Changes Proposed for the Stormwater Management Services Program Read the full text...
4/11/12 -- Crowd-funding bill passed and signed into law - Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS Act) creates easier access to capital for start-up businesses Read the full text...
5/30/2012 - Philadelphia Redevelopment Authoritys Front Door Database Read the full text...
6/18/2012 - Actual Value Initiative and Businesses Use and Occupancy Tax Read the full text...
6/22/2012 - U&O tax bill passed Read the full text...
6/25/2012 - Bill No. 120299-AA - New mandates on sealing Large Vacant Commercial/Industrial Properties or Foreclosed Vacant Residential Properties Read the full text...
6/29/2012 - City Council Passed $3.6 Billion Budget, without the Actual Value Initiative but with tax increase Read the full text...
7/13/2012 - The Philadelphia 21st Century Minimum Wage & Benefits Standard Bill(Paid Sick Leave Bill) - Effective July 1, 2012 Read the full text...
8/02/2012 - Legislation to keep an eye on in the fall Read the full text...
Energy Conservation, Benchmarking, and Reporting - Benchmarking and reporting mandates will go into affect June 1, 2013 Read the full text...
Pollution Prevention Assistance Account - Low interest loans for pollution mitigation and prevention Read the full text...
Philadelphias First Source Job Policy Read the full text...
Stormwater Management Incentives Program, Second Round Read the full text...
PGW Incentive Program for Large Commercial & Industrial Customers Read the full text...
Merchants Fund Grant Deadline Friday, February 22, 2013 Read the full text...
Veteran's Tax Credit Program Read the full text...
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Read the full text...
License to Inspect Online App Read the full text...
Lower interest rates for DCED Financing Programs Read the full text...
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative - Excellent source of funding for machinery upgrades! Read the full text...
Paid Sick Leave Bill Back Again - "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces" Read the full text...
Energy Benchmarking Bill Reminder Read the full text...
Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Manufacturing Sector Read the full text...
PA Sunshine Solar Program Read the full text...
Paid Sick Leave Hearing Date Set Read the full text...
Earned Sick Leave Bill Passes Read the full text...
Empowerment Zone Employment Credit Read the full text...
Reminder: Applications for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program Due March 22 Read the full text...
AVI Appeal Deadline Approaching Read the full text...
The Use & Occupancy Tax Bill Most Likely To Pass City Council Read the full text...
Use & Occupancy and AVI Update Read the full text...
TESTIMONY OF Stephen F. Jurash, President & CEO Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia - Testimony of Steve Jurash in Support of BIRT Tax Bill Read the full text...
Legislative Alert: Public Hearing on BIRT TAX Bill Read the full text...
Important Information for Appealing Your New Assessment Under AVI Read the full text...
Mayor's Manufacturing Task Force Presents Findings for a Manufacturing Growth Strategy for Philadelphia Read the full text...
Mayor Signs Local Bidding Preference Changes Into Law Read the full text...
New Tax Saving Formula from the City! Read the full text...
Paid Sick Leave Is a Reality In Philadelphia - How Will It Affect Your Business? Here are the Details Read the full text...
Answers to Questions About the Paid Sick Leave Ordinance - New Website Read the full text...
Check back soon for more events!
Yeremian Bros Jewelry
Jewelry (Except Costume) Manufacturing
Martin, R & E Co
Petroleum Lubricating Oil & Grease Manufacturing
D L Electronics Inc
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing


© 2018, The Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia, All Rights Reserved - Phone: (215) 948-9285