Philadelphia City Council has until the end of this month to approve a budget for the city and, on Thursday, councilmembers are expected to resume discussion on some sticking points in the mayor’s proposal — most notably, new taxes, like a plan to add a tax to rideshare trips, a tax on certain d eliveries and an effort to create a new hotel tax. Earlier this year, Mayor Cherelle Parker unveiled a nearly $7 billion budget plan for the city that included new taxes including: A new tax on rideshare trips intended to raise funding for the city’s school system A new retail delivery tax on certain goods that would be intended to help the city afford a pothole repair squad A new hotel tax and an increase on short term rentals intended to generate revenue to be used on homelessness prevention initiatives But, ahead of Thursday’s meeting, there was no indication that there were enough votes to see any of these three efforts passed in council. The rideshare plan has been heavily debated and amended since it was initially proposed and, according to Philadelphia City councilmember-at-large Jim Harrity, he won’t support the plan because his constituents can’t handle a new tax. “I live in Kensington. I live with people that cannot afford the dollar,” he said. “I get it. It’s a dollar. But, for my people, for my neighbors, it’s not just a dollar. That’s something else.” Ahead of Thursday’s meeting, education advocates met with councilmembers to call for $75 million in new funding for the city’s schools, more than the $50 million that Parker’s $1 tax on rideshare trips could generate. Also, after negotiations went late into the evening on Wednesday, officials weren’t expected to take up a vote on the proposal for a new hotel and rental tax on Thursday — which has been reduced from Parker’s originally proposed 2% tax on hotel stays to just .6%, while adding a new 6% increase on taxes for short term rentals, like an AirBnB stay. Notations are ongoing as councilmembers have said they want to support new funding for these initiatives — especially to help support the city’s public schools, but aren’t sure if new taxes are the best way to get that done. City Council was set to begin meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday. NBC10 plans to monitor the meeting and will provide updates as they become available. ...read more read less