By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — City Council President Darrell Clarke on Thursday delivered a shot across the bow to Mayor Nutter’s plan to overhaul property taxes.

Clarke, like many of his colleagues, fears that many homeowners would face massive property tax hikes this year if council approves the mayor’s plan. So he has now introduced four separate bills that offer protections to homeowners that go beyond the protections — such as a homestead exemption — that Nutter has proposed.

“What we want to do is have enough measures in play to assure that we have some levels of protection for those individuals who will ultimately suffer some challenges as it relates to paying their taxes,” Clarke said.

The mayor says the move to what is called Actual Value will bring in an additional $94-million earmarked for the cash-starved school district.

Council members are particularly concerned about the resulting tax hit to longtime residents in gentrified neighborhoods.

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