Philadelphia starts replacing the hated Board of Revision of Taxes

Voters approved abolishing agency that assessed property taxes and heard tax appeals

Voters overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday a referendum that does away with the Board of Revision of Taxes in Philadelphia. Now new city agencies have to take over assessing property taxes.

Mayor Michael Nutter says residents have sent a message on the abolishing the B.R.T. The city has to work on creating the assessment and appeals entities that will replace what many feel is the most hated organization of city government.

“We have to have a chief assessment officer in place by July first, well that means someone has to be hired, nominated to council for a confirmation and get through that process in the course of June before the last legislative session, leading to someone in place by July first. Second, the new Board of Appeals has to be in place by October first.”

The mayor says there has to be public notification throughout the process which will also slow things down. The current Board of Revision of Taxes might delay change even more by taking the matter to court.