Ballot Questions

[emoney]

2012 General Election Ballot Questions


Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to allow for the establishment of an independent rate-making body for fixing and regulating water and sewer rates and charges and to prescribe open and transparent processes and procedures for fixing and regulating said rates and charges?


Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to authorize the creation by ordinance of requirements for additional information to be submitted with the annual operating budget, annual capital budget, and capital program, including, but not limited to, information about the cost of performing specific functions, the effectiveness of such functions, and the costs versus benefits of proposed expenditures, and to require the Finance Director to provide such information?


Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter – which allows for a preference in the civil service regulations for the children of Philadelphia firefighters or police officers who were killed or who died in the line of duty – be amended to further allow for a preference for the grandchildren of such firefighters or police officers?


Should the City of Philadelphia borrow ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE MILLION SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($123,670,000) to be spent for and toward capital purposes as follows: Transit; Streets and Sanitation; Municipal Buildings; Parks, Recreation and Museums; and Economic and Community Development?

[thoth]

2012 General Election Ballot Questions


Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to allow for the establishment of an independent rate-making body for fixing and regulating water and sewer rates and charges and to prescribe open and transparent processes and procedures for fixing and regulating said rates and charges?


Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to authorize the creation by ordinance of requirements for additional information to be submitted with the annual operating budget, annual capital budget, and capital program, including, but not limited to, information about the cost of performing specific functions, the effectiveness of such functions, and the costs versus benefits of proposed expenditures, and to require the Finance Director to provide such information?


Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter – which allows for a preference in the civil service regulations for the children of Philadelphia firefighters or police officers who were killed or who died in the line of duty – be amended to further allow for a preference for the grandchildren of such firefighters or police officers?


Should the City of Philadelphia borrow ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE MILLION SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($123,670,000) to be spent for and toward capital purposes as follows: Transit; Streets and Sanitation; Municipal Buildings; Parks, Recreation and Museums; and Economic and Community Development?

Like how they snuck that last one in there. #2 is nearly incomprehensible to me, #3 is a ****ing joke, and #4...isn't borrowing to cover operating costs death spiral territory? I know we've done it plenty of times before, but...

[BarryG]

Like how they snuck that last one in there. #2 is nearly incomprehensible to me, #3 is a ****ing joke, and #4...isn't borrowing to cover operating costs death spiral territory? I know we've done it plenty of times before, but...

Capital, not operating, which is totally standard.. Municipal bonds.

[seand]

What the hell is #2 about? That Council doesn't like that Dubow doesn't gives them budget answers in a snappy enough manner?

Why does #3 have to be in the City Charter?

What does #4 actually go for?

[annie]

What the hell is #2 about? That Council doesn't like that Dubow doesn't gives them budget answers in a snappy enough manner?

This: Consumer advocates protest 28.5 percent hike in Philadelphia water rates - Philly.com

The water department's rate request inspired City Council to approve a ballot issue for November to create an independent body to review water and sewer rates, but the vote won't affect the current proposal.

I forget which councilman was behind it. Clarke maybe?

[raider.adam]

This: Consumer advocates protest 28.5 percent hike in Philadelphia water rates - Philly.com



I forget which councilman was behind it. Clarke maybe?

Yes, Clarke. Personally, I would say make Council have to vote on the rates. Someone should be politically accountable.

[OffenseTaken]

Transit; Streets and Sanitation; Municipal Buildings; Parks, Recreation and Museums; and Economic and Community Development

They had me until "Economic and Community Development." That could be literally anything. Do we know exactly where this money would be going, or is it up to Council's discretion?

[raider.adam]

They had me until "Economic and Community Development." That could be literally anything. Do we know exactly where this money would be going, or is it up to Council's discretion?

I would have to check the legislation, but likely they have it worded where a lot of it is discretionary.

Now that would be an interesting charter amendment. Municipal bonds have to be targeted to specific projects when put up for vote.

[OffenseTaken]

Now that would be an interesting charter amendment. Municipal bonds have to be targeted to specific projects when put up for vote.

I'm really kind of amazed they're not already. If someone with less-than-stellar credit said to me, "Hey can I borrow some money for, you know, stuff? Stuff that's good for things?" then I would want to know a little more, and I don't think I'm alone.

[seand]

This: Consumer advocates protest 28.5 percent hike in Philadelphia water rates - Philly.com



I forget which councilman was behind it. Clarke maybe?

Thats #1, from the wording of #2 there is no clue whatsoever that it has anything whatsoever to do with #1.

[emoney]

#2 sounds similar to this:

Councilman Bill Green

Fiscal Responsibility

Without knowing the specific costs and benefits of the functions performed with City funding, the City’s ability to meet its basic fiduciary duty to residents – allocating scare resources to maximize the return for citizens – is compromised. This legislation will equip the City with the information needed to make better spending decisions as it continues to confront a challenging fiscal environment. These bills will:
• Require fiscal impact analysis of all new legislation prior to passage
• Implement program-based budgeting detailing the true cost of performing City-supported functions and how the City measures the effectiveness thereof
• Mandate cost-benefit analysis for all capital budget projects
• Create a “Justice Reinvestment Fund” whereby a percentage of savings generated across the criminal justice system will be reinvested in new, evidence-based justice system reform initiatives with projected positive returns on investment

[seand]

#2 sounds similar to this:

Councilman Bill Green

Fiscal Responsibility

Without knowing the specific costs and benefits of the functions performed with City funding, the City’s ability to meet its basic fiduciary duty to residents – allocating scare resources to maximize the return for citizens – is compromised. This legislation will equip the City with the information needed to make better spending decisions as it continues to confront a challenging fiscal environment. These bills will:
• Require fiscal impact analysis of all new legislation prior to passage
• Implement program-based budgeting detailing the true cost of performing City-supported functions and how the City measures the effectiveness thereof
• Mandate cost-benefit analysis for all capital budget projects
• Create a “Justice Reinvestment Fund” whereby a percentage of savings generated across the criminal justice system will be reinvested in new, evidence-based justice system reform initiatives with projected positive returns on investment

bullet points #1-3 actually sounds a bit like Adam's suggestion, up thread. I also support bullet point #4 though i imagine there are folks here who would disagree.

Thanks, for once there is a ballot initiative I'm happily supporting, if its the same proposal.

[AbortedWalrus]

If that's what #2 means I would say that's a yes from me.

[palvar]

Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to allow for the establishment of an independent rate-making body for fixing and regulating water and sewer rates and charges and to prescribe open and transparent processes and procedures for fixing and regulating said rates and charges?

Doesn't the PUC already do this?

[thoth]

Capital, not operating, which is totally standard.. Municipal bonds.

Hm, missed that. agree that econ development could be literally anything.

[mixiboi]

Damn it they had to mention transit....

[govtstatistic]

In a nutshell
1- shall we hire a lot of new people (on top of the old) to regulate water bills? ? NO
2- will all of these expeditures be available to the public on the internet
or are theyy only available for elites ? NO
3- how about cousins mothers & fathers uncles and fourth generation ? NO
4- who will pay this money back ?
will taxes or what forms of revenue will be increased to pay this money back ? NO

[mixiboi]

Well now we know how the general public feels uneducated...I guess none of them will pass...

[govtstatistic]

Well now we know how the general public feels uneducated...I guess none of them will pass...

so how does an educated voter vote ?
&
why?

[Dave]

Committee of Seventy: November 2012 Ballot Questions