Huge Philadelphia Property Tax Hike Draws Near
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The tax man cometh in Philadelphia -- in full force -- in just a couple of weeks.
City officials are about to mail out tax bills reflecting the nearly 10-percent property tax hike approved by City Council and the mayor earlier this year.
The mayor originally wanted a flat $300-a-year a trash fee to raise about $100 million. City Council rejected that back in May, instead opting for a 9.9 percent property tax hike, which Mayor Nutter signed into law.
Now, in just two weeks, more than a half-million residential and commercial property owners will feel the pain.
City revenue commissioner Keith Richardson says that shortly after Thanksgiving, the tax bills reflecting that increase will be mailed out.
"Everyone will see a higher rate with the real estate bill that comes out," he said.
And he knows his department's phones will be ringing with people suffering sticker shock:
"We're prepared; we know what's going to happen. Unfortunately, we're going to have to tell them that during the budget season, this bill was passed to increase the real estate taxes by 9.9 percent."
Richardson's advice? Simply, pay the bill:
"I would tell folks to plan ahead and plan to take care of this bill, because they don't want to become delinquent. And if they do become delinquent, a lien goes on the property that will move it toward the foreclosure process."
The increase will bring in about $92 million -- 60 percent for the school district, 40 percent for the city's general fund.
Richardson says they'll try to work out payments plans for anyone who will have trouble paying that bigger-than-ever tax bill when it is due in February:
"Please call us to set up a payment. We will try to work with anyone who has a financial hardship right now."
You can reach the Revenue Department by calling the 311 non-emergency switchboard.
Mayor Nutter also spoke about the impending tax hikes Wednesday morning on KYW Newsradio's "Ask The Mayor" program.
He says there was no avoiding this:
"Unless we were to have even more massive cuts, you have to have the revenue to run the government. We're not the federal government, we don't print the money, and we can't have a deficit. So, one way or another, unfortunately, folks are going to have to pay."
Hear the entire "Ask The Mayor" Podcast...
Nutter repeats the advice that if any homeowner has difficulty paying the higher bill, contact the Revenue Department to work out an installment plan.
Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060.
