Say NO to Nutter's Proposed AVI

May 2, 2012

Respected Members of the Philadelphia City Council,

The signers of this petition represent citizens and customers of the city of Philadelphia who are concerned with public ethics to include waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiency in municipal and regional government. We are respectfully urging you to VOTE NO on Mayor Nutter's proposed "Actual Value Initiative" (AVI), which would force those in Philadelphia who already pay their taxes and take care of their homes to be penalized for being responsible citizens.

Responsible Philadelphia taxpayers refuse to be extorted for the third year in a row by a school district with a pervasive culture of mismanagement and wasteful spending. While we are not naive to the needs of Philadelphia's students and our massive municipal budget shortfalls, it is simply unethical and irresponsible for our city leaders to continue to propose new taxes and fees that make our city even less competitive with our safer, more educationally sound suburban neighbors; when there is roughly $500,000,000 in uncollected property taxes, bail revenue, and other funds already owed to (yet uncollected by) the city of Philadelphia.

We therefore call upon you, our elected leaders, to approach your decision on AVI with sound business acumen and consider the mental, physical, and financial welfare of the beleaguered Philadelphia taxpayer and VOTE NO on Mayor Nutter's AVI proposal.

Thank you for your consideration,

Philadelphians for Ethical Leadership