Byko: Philly's War on Motorists continues

I WAS AFRAID for a while Philadelphia City Council wouldn't come up with the funds to close the school-funding gap.

Well, Council didn't, just $70 million of the $103 million Schools Superintendent William Hite had requested. The remaining deficit will come (we hope) from Good Gov. Wolf, handcuffed by a tax-averse Republican Legislature.

Where will Philly's $70 million come from?

It is reported $50 million will come from a 4.5 percent property-tax increase, $10 million from an increase in the use-and-occupancy tax on commercial property (I'll let the Chamber of Commerce worry about that) and, finally, $10 million from increasing the off-street parking tax, levied on lots and garages.

Neither paper reported the percentage increase on the current 20 percent parking tax. The tax goes up 2.5 percent, which amounts to a 12.5 percent hike, for a total 22.5 percent tax bite to park your car off the street.

That's huge, but why not? All car owners are rich, right?

Just another example of what I call Philadelphia's War on Motorists. And they just take it.

More of you are probably parking off-street now as the city has been increasing the cost of on-street parking while reducing the time you can spend at a meter. The more-or-less standard in Center City is two hours, that costs $5, if you can find a spot, which you can't most evenings.

What good, really, is two hours? If you park a 10-minute walk from a restaurant, that's a 20-minute round trip, leaving you an hour and 40 minutes to "enjoy" your meal. A European-style linger is out of the question.

Going to the theater? That takes more than two hours, as does an evening with friends.

Parking isn't the motorist's biggest expense, of course. Insurance is high, as is gas.

Did I mention gasoline?

In January, Pennsylvania passed California and New York as the highest-taxed gas in the nation. Hurray! We're No. 1!

Combined with the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, Pennsylvania's state tax of 50.5 cents per gallon brings the combined tax to 68.9 cents per gallon. Californians pay 63.7 cents, New Yorkers pay 63.4 cents, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

That's not all.

On July 1, car and motorcycle registration will cost $1 more, $37 and $19, respectively. Pickup truck registration will rise $1.50, to $60.

Also on July 1, the base license fee, not including the cost of the photo, will rise $1, to $22.

Pennsylvania turnpike tolls have increased, for the seventh consecutive year. Feel the love.

AAA estimates the annual cost of car ownership is $8,698.

Parking fees will go up "significantly," Joe Zuritsky, CEO of Parkway Corp., which operates more than 30 lots and garages, told me yesterday "because all three taxes fall on us."

Cars pay their share in maintaining the road. Why motorists (many of whom also are taxed as property owners) have to pay twice to fund the schools is not a mystery.

Motorists don't squawk when lawmakers treat them like cash cows. (I am not a car owner.)

You know who doesn't pay a fair share, any share at all?

Bicyclists, who do squawk, loudly, at any suggestion they should kick in for the streets they use.

License bicycles? No!

Register bicycles? No!

Insure bicycles? No!

Charge for public parking? No!

Tax bicycles? No!

Selfish and self-righteous, they get the elevator while motorists get the shaft.

And will, until they learn to lean on their horns.

Phone: 215-854-5977

On Twitter: @StuBykofsky

Blog: ph.ly/Byko

Columns: ph.ly/StuBykofsky