Clarke wants extension to Homestead Rebate deadline

Philadelphia City Council will consider a bill to extend the deadline for the Homestead Rebate applications. The program helps homeowners cut their property tax bills. 

Council President Darrell Clarke wants to extend the rebate application deadline from July 31st to September 30th because he says not enough homeowners understand the rebate application process.

“I am extremely concerned about the number of individuals who have actually applied, the last count we got was about 50 percent, some of the numbers as we have shown to respects to the possibility of individuals taxes going down as opposed to going up basically depend on maximum participation right now we don’t have close to that,” he said.

Clarke believes outreach is necessary to explain the homestead program.

“What we’re finding out is that people need to sit down and have conversations with individuals about how to fill it out,” he said. “There are a lot of seniors who have very very difficult times understanding the format.”

Extending the deadline, Clarke says, will give time for that outreach.