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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's mayor wants to tax sugary drinks to help fund his universal pre-K plan, among other initiatives.
Mayor Jim Kenney tells The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1nclHw4 ) he believes the 3-cents-per-ounce tax could bring in $400 million over five years.
He says the money could fund a green jobs plan and repay a bond for rebuilding parks and recreations centers.
Former Mayor Michael Nutter proposed a 2-cents-per-ounce tax during his administration. Kenney, a city councilman at the time, opposed the idea, and the tax never made it to a council vote.
The tax would be levied on distributors, and soda lobbyists would likely fight it. Kenney will announce more details Thursday.
The newspaper says only Berkeley, California, has enacted a soda tax, at 1 cent per ounce.
Kenney hopes to add 10,000 pre-K seats by 2020.
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Information from: Philly.com, http://www.philly.com/
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