Page 4 The Public Record • April 25, 2013 www.phillyrecord.com • 215-755-2000
Heard on the Hill / in City Hall Council President Seeks To Extend Tax Relief Deadline Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th Dist.) has introduced an ordinance extending the deadline for property owners to apply for the Homestead Exemption, which could mean hundreds of dollars in savings per household after the implementation of the Actual Value Initiative in Tax Year 2014. The ordinance, introduced on Council President Clarke’s behalf by Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th Dist.), would move the deadline from Jul. 31, 2013, to Sep. 30, 2013. According to the Nutter Administration, just 180,000 applications out of 347,777 qualifying properties have been approved for the Homestead Exemption. Owner-occupants are eligible for this relief – which sub-
tracts tens of thousands from assessed property value, thereby reducing tax bills – for their primary residences only. “Over months of holding meetings to explain the Actual Value Initiative,” said Clarke, “my Council colleagues and I found far too many residents who were confused about how their property tax bills would be affected next year. With relief measures currently under consideration by Council, most property owners will actually see lower taxes under AVI.” Council Wants Departments To Work Together On AVI
Councilwoman at Large Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced a resolution calling for hearings to investigate the coordination between various City commissions, departments and agencies on the
AVI. The resolution was cosponsored by Councilwomen Maria Quiñones Sánchez and Marian B. Tasco. During the Office of Property Assessment’s March 2013 budget hearing, it was revealed that many homeowners in the City were not informed, educated or fully aware of the proposed AVI initiative, and out of 340,000 property owners eligible for the Homestead Exemption, only 183,000 applications were received. Evidence suggests that certain categories of homeowners may require additional or alternative methods of outreach, particularly those homeowners who lack regular internet access, including the elderly and low income, and those who have limited English proficiency.
House Committee Approves Philly Tax Relief Package
The House Urban Affairs Committee has approved legislation sponsored by State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker (D-Northwest) and members of the Philadelphia Delegation that would provide property-tax relief for Philadelphia homeowners affected by the city’s AVI. Parker, who is chairwoman of the Philadelphia Delegation, said the bills (HBs 388, 390 and 391) represent months of collaboration among members of the House and Senate delegations, the Nutter administration and City Council. The legislation is known as the Philadelphia Delegation Property Tax Relief Package. It includes: HB 388, introduced by Parker, which would give all
counties additional authority to collect delinquent property taxes in a more timely and costefficient manner. Local governments would be authorized to place liens on real property under common ownership in Pennsylvania when at least one is delinquent in the taxes owed to the home municipality. HB 390, introduced by State Rep. Mike O’Brien (DKensington), would provide relief for people who have lived in their homes for decades but who may not have the resources to pay their increased tax bill, such as the elderly on fixed incomes. HB 391, introduced by State Rep. Mike McGeehan (D-Northeast), would give Philadelphia the ability to provide eligible homeowners with the option to make property-
tax payments in periodic installments. House School Safety Committee Holds Mtg.
The House Select Committee on School Safety & Security, co-chaired by State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker, held its first public hearing to begin reviewing the status of current school safety and security policies and procedures in the commonwealth and making recommendations for change. Members of the committee heard from and had the opportunity to question public officials including Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis and Office of Safe Schools Director Michael Kozup. “After working strategically to organize the structure of the committee and its direction, I am pleased that we are (Cont. Page 8)
Experience•Integrity•Commitment Endorsed by Democratic City Committee Pull
Lever
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Recommended by Philadelphia Bar Association Paid for by Martin Coleman for Municipal court Judge