Monthly Economic Report: Revenues for Fines & Penalties Down 11% Over Last Year


Audit Date: December 27, 2012
Audit Categories
  • Financial
Controller: Alan Butkovitz

Executive Summary


For Immediate Release:
December 27, 2012

Contact: Brian Dries
215-686-8869

Revenues for Fines & Penalties Down 11% Over Last Year
City Controller’s economic report includes review of yearly non-tax revenues
related to city fines and penalties

November 2012 Economic Report

PHILADELPHIA – City Controller Alan Butkovitz today released his latest monthly economic report that indicates an 11 percent decrease in year-over-year non-tax revenue for city fines and penalties.

From July through November, city revenues related to fines and penalties totaled $6.6 million, compared to $7.4 million last year during the same period. These revenues included payments the city received for traffic fines, litter fines, code fines false burglar alarm fines, penalties for bad checks and other-related fees and penalties.

Of the total amount collected for these non-tax revenues during the current FY2013, $1.7 was for revenues generated from litter fines. This was a 15 percent decrease from FY2012 and a 22 percent decrease from FY2011.

While payments for litter fines were down over the last two years, current fiscal year revenues for burglar alarm fines were up 12 percent over last year. In the first five months of FY2013, the city collected $809,509, compared to $721,200 last year.

A breakdown of collections by these non-tax revenues includes the following:

FY12

FY13

Traffic

$2,844,362

$2,869,548

Litter

$2,054,442

$1,741,711

False Alarm Burglar

$721,200

$809,509

Code

$295,244

$221,538

Other

$1,441,729

$942,230

Along with reviewing non-tax revenues, the Controller’s economic report shows that yearly sales tax revenues totaled $105.8 million, a three percent increase over last year. Yearly wage, net profits and earnings tax revenues totaled $640.5 million, a two percent increase over last year.

The Controller’s economic report is compiled on a monthly basis and includes an Economic Snapshot and Forecast, as well as real estate information and other local statistics. These reports are circulated every month to assist key decision makers in understanding and anticipating local and national economic trends. The Controller’s economic report is a useful tool for policy makers and analysts in understanding our regional and local economy.

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