Pennsylvania Senate to vote on bill that takes on tax scofflaws

     A tax bill heading to the Pa. Senate would allow the city of Philadelphia to legally tie a scofflaw's property, outside the city, to their debt in the city. A person who owes the city of Philadelphia more than $70,000 dollars in property taxes owns this suburban home (Image via Google courtesy of PACDC)

    A tax bill heading to the Pa. Senate would allow the city of Philadelphia to legally tie a scofflaw's property, outside the city, to their debt in the city. A person who owes the city of Philadelphia more than $70,000 dollars in property taxes owns this suburban home (Image via Google courtesy of PACDC)

    The Pennsylvania Senate is expected to vote the week of Oct. 21 on a tool to help cities go after tax delinquents.

    The bill allows the city of Philadelphia to legally tie a scofflaw’s property, outside the city, to their debt in the city, and thus pressure them into paying up.

    Beth McConnell is the policy director at the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations.

    “What this bill will allow the city to do is go through a legal process to get a judgement filed against an individual that may live outside of Philadephia but may own some properties in the city that are significantly tax delinquent.”

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    McConnell said this while paging through printouts of beautiful homes in the Philadelphia suburbs, including one owned by a person who has a pool and tennis courts and owes the city of Philadelphia more than $70,000 dollars in property taxes.

    Other cities around Pennsylvania would also benefit from the new tool.

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