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(Philadelphia city councilman David Oh speaks with reporters. Credit: Mike Dunn)

Councilman Wants To Subpoena Nutter Administration Over Property Revaluations

Councilman at-large David Oh says questions abound over the accuracy of the new assessments, and he says the methodology released last week did not clear up how the new property values were calculated.

2013/05/02

Homestead Exemption Application Deadline Extended

City officials have extended the Homestead Exemption application deadline to September 13th.

2013/05/02

(Moira Baylson announces the new cultureblocks.com web site, at a City Hall press conference. Credit: Mike Dunn)

City of Philadelphia Unveils New Arts-and-Culture Planning Web Site

Moira Baylson, of the mayor’s Office of the Arts (at left in photo), says the site grabs a long list of primary data from other public and private sources, making research one-stop shopping.

2013/04/30

Budget Woes Threaten SEPTA’s Stability

Even as SEPTA moves toward a new system-wide fare hike, a report being released today finds that the transit agency’s capital needs are woefully underfunded.

2013/04/29

(Philadelphia fire commissioner Lloyd Ayers testifies before City Council. Credit: Mike Dunn)

Nutter Administration Stands Firm On Firehouse Brownouts

The Nutter administration says the controversial fire department policy of station “brownouts” will continue even if City Council appropriates extra money to eliminate them.

2013/04/24

City Officials Trying To Find Money For School District

City Council members are wondering how they and the mayor will come up with an extra $60-million for the school district and whether the state will do its share.

2013/04/24

City Council Asks OPA To Release AVI Formulas

City Council members are inching closer to getting the nitty-gritty on how the Nutter Administration came up with new assessments for every property in the city.

2013/04/24

(Councilman Wilson Goode Jr., in 2011 file photo. Image from City of Phila. TV)

Councilman Goode Proposes Changes For Tax Abatement Program

“We’re giving away money (through the abatement) that we don’t necessarily need to give away,” Goode said. “And at the same time, driving up tax bills for everyone else.”

2013/04/24

(Philadelphia DA Seth Williams testifies about his department's proposed budget for next fiscal year. Image from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia DA Says Mayor Is Underbudgeting Fighting Crime

DA Seth Williams went before City Council’s budget committee today asking for an extra $2.75 million above the nearly $32 million that Mayor Nutter has proposed for the district attorney’s office.

2013/04/22

Phila. City Council Aims To Raise Awareness of New Property Tax Homestead Exemption

City Council President Darrell Clarke says so far about only 50-percent of homeowners eligible for next year’s Homestead Exemption have signed up so far.

2013/04/22

City’s Chief Integrity Officer’s Integrity Questioned After Speech To Panel

Joan Markman, Mayor Nutter’s chief integrity officer, finds herself in a political firestorm after she injected herself into a Philadelphia Historical Commission debate over a coffee shop near her home.

2013/04/19

(Councilman Mark Squilla. Image from City of Phila. TV)

Councilman Wants No Hikes For Property Owners Awaiting Tax Appeal Decisions

Under current regulations, homeowners would have to pay the new — and possibly higher — bill and then get reimbursed if they win the appeal.

2013/04/18

(Former Philadelphia sheriff John Green, in file photo. Credit: CBS3)

Former Philadelphia Sheriff Faces Lawsuit From The City

Attorneys for the city have filed suit against John Green, who served as Philadelphia sheriff from 1998 until 2010, along with other former employees and two private firms that had been hired by the city.

2013/04/18

(Philadelphia controller Alan Butkovitz. File photo by Mike DeNardo)

City Controller Says Philadelphia’s Property Tax Abatement Is Unfair To Other Homeowners

City controller Alan Butkovitz on Tuesday told council that the abatement is basically unfair to other homeowners who now face higher taxes under AVI.

2013/04/17