BRT reorganization will go to Phila. voters in May

A proposed city charter that would replace the Board of Revision of Taxes with two new agencies will go to the voters in the spring. But some council members are opposed to the change because it does not guarantee employment for current patronage employees.

A proposed city charter that would replace the Board of Revision of Taxes with two new agencies will go to the voters in the spring. But some council members are opposed to the change because it does not guarantee employment for current patronage employees.

Listen:
[audio: 091217tmbrt.mp3]

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Curtis Jones voted against the bill, because it requires that 80 patronage workers take civil service tests to qualify for jobs they have held for decades. Donna Augment is a ward leader in Kensington and a clerk at the BRT. She says she has worked for the BRT for 29 years and is upset about the change.

Augment: The fact is I’m going to lose all my vacation time, all my sick time and 29 years seniority. I will take a civil service test which I passed before and turned the job down and I will be on the bottom of a rung and when the mayor wants to cut more people who’s going to get to be cut.

Voters will have the final say when the change is put on the ballot in the spring. The two agencies are expected to take over the assessing function in October.