Nutter Lobbies For State Action On City Reassessments
By Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Mayor Michael Nutter went to Harrisburg Tuesday to press for action on state legislation that will enable the city of Philadelphia to overhaul its property tax assessment system.
Nutter told the state Senate Education Committee that lawmakers need to enact legislation if the city is to issue new property assessment notices in the early fall of next year.
He says it will be, "the most complete evaluation and reassessment of every property that has ever been performed in Philadelphia – or at least in our lifetimes."
Under the planned overhaul, the assessed value of properties – currently below actual value -- would go up while tax rates would go down. The new property values that are established will, however, be used to collect taxes for both the city and the city school district. And Mayor Nutter told the committee that a portion of the school district rate is directly authorized in state law in five different statutes.
"We need a limitation on the district's ability to use the full authority of the state-established millage rate now, so the city can significantly reduce the school district tax rate next spring to match the much higher assessments that are coming next year."
But Andrew Dinniman of Chester County, the ranking Democrat on the Senate panel, warned that some lawmakers may balk, saying their own constituents have seen higher assessments that have resulted in higher taxes.
"And therefore try to use this as an excuse not to give the proper funding to the city of Philadelphia."
The mayor is seeking action by the legislature before spring.
