Business News

Mayor Jim Kenney Is In Denial About The Soda Tax

By Samad Robinson

August 25, 2017

Since Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has implicated the soda tax on January 1, 2017 he has gotten nothing but ridicule from the city of Philadelphia. When I first heard of this tax I said people will just go to surrounding counties to buy sugary drinks instead of buying them in Philadelphia. Sales of sugary drink are down by 55% in the city and increased 38% in the surrounding areas outside of Philadelphia. The city of Philadelphia projected revenue from the soda tax has fallen short. Through the first 6 months of the tax being active $39 million of revenue has been generated. The city of Philadelphia was expected to generate $46 million. They have adjusted their monthly projection based on the prior months of revenue. The Mayor’s office still believes in the soda tax will be a success. The question I would like to ask Mayor Kenney is since your projected revenue was lower those this affect the pre-K program funding? A lot of people would like to see the tax eradicated once and for all. Will Jim Kenney ever give up on the Soda Tax? Soda Tax Calculator