State Senate To Vote On More Money For Philadelphia Schools
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Earlier this week, a major piece of the Philadelphia schools' budget puzzle fell into place when Governor Corbett released $45 million to the school district. Now, it appears that another $30 million piece of the puzzle may soon follow.
Back in the spring, the state House passed a bill that would raise about $30 million for city schools by improving collection of delinquent property taxes. That bill has been languishing in the Senate -- until now.
Erik Arneson, spokesman for Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi, the Senate majority leader, says the measure is expected to get a vote by the end of the year, and possibly as soon as next week.
"We had had some questions from other parts of the state as to how this would affect other areas. And people have now had time to look at that and understand it."
When a property owner is delinquent on taxes, the bill would allow Philadelphia and other counties to place liens, not just on properties in that county, but on properties the scofflaw may own in other counties.
"You own property that you live in, say, in another county – a lien could be attached to that property where you live, which obviously is going to have a way of getting people's attention."
Another House bill that would allow Philadelphians to pay property taxes in installments is also expected to get a Senate vote.
