City Council Looks To Extend LOOP Deadline
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Over the objections of the Nutter Administration, City Council this week is expected to extend by one month a deadline for residents to apply for a new property tax relief program called LOOP.
The LOOP program is aimed at residents who've been in the same home for more than a decade, and whose assessments have more than tripled.
If approved, their assessment would be capped at the tripled number, and the amount beyond that would not be taxed.
The original deadline to apply was January 15th but Council this week is poised to extend that until February 17th.
Monty Wilson of Community Legal Services said the extra month is sorely needed.
"Extending the deadline an extra 30 days so that people have at least two months to learn about the program, get the advice they need, and apply for the program, is well merited. I don't want this program to be the best program nobody in Philadelphia ever heard about," Wilson says.
Nutter Administration officials said the mayor opposes the extension because of the added administrative costs in giving people more time.
The administration has already sent out notices to the 80-thousand homeowners whose assessments more than tripled.
But Council's Finance committee rejected the Administration's stance and approved the extension, and a final vote by the full council is expected this Thursday.
