PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Jim Kenney issued a statement today following preliminary agreement with Philadelphia City Council on the budget:

“I want to thank all members of City Council, under the leadership of Council President Darrell L. Clarke, for their partnership on finalizing the Fiscal Year 2022 Operating and Capital Budgets.

“Among the items debated over the last few weeks include funding for violence prevention initiatives to both address the immediate crisis and complement other investments that tackle the systemic, root causes of violence. As a result of ongoing input from City Council, the City will be able to dedicate more than $150 million this year to reduce violence through an array of strategies focused on community empowerment, employment and careers, healing, prevention, and safe havens for children and youth.

“Between existing, new, and expanded programs proposed by the Administration in its initial FY22 Budget proposed on April 15th, as well as additional resources added, $155.7 million will be invested to reduce and prevent violence. Not included in the $155.7 million are our significant educational and anti-poverty investments, nor our traditional economic development activities. With those efforts added in, our commitment to anti-violence totals hundreds of millions each year.

“I’m also pleased that the budget deal includes our administration’s proposed wage tax reduction for residents to the lowest level in 50 years. We will enact the largest wage tax rate cut in more than a decade which will provide critical relief to workers and help attract and grow business.

“I am proud of the collaboration during an abbreviated and unconventional budget season that got us to this point. This budget makes meaningful investments to ensure the long-term safety, health and well-being of Philadelphia and our residents. It focuses on providing—and in some cases expanding—core services while maintaining our long-term fiscal health, reducing racial disparities among Philadelphians, and advancing equitable outcomes for all Philadelphians. Ultimately, I believe it will help Philadelphians in every neighborhood benefit from a strong recovery from the pandemic. I look forward to its final passage.”