Goode taking another try at capping property tax abatements

Philadelphia City Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. has withdrawn one of his two bills seeking to limit real estate tax abatements for high-priced homes.

Goode says he’s withdrawn a bill that would have ended the tax abatement for home values greater than $500,000.  He says he’s withdrawing that one to give his other bill a chance.

“It’s not clear that both bills are going to pass so I decided to make up my mind to choose the second bill, rather than have two options out there,” he said.

The other bill would cap abatements but only for the school portion of property taxes. No taxes would be collected on the first $500,000 of home value, but above that would generate a tax bill.

“My quest right now is to get the schools money as quickly as possible,” Goode said.

Goode has had trouble getting his colleagues to approve his original plan. Council tabled the bill and before pulling it he had vowed to keep bringing it up every week until it got full consideration.