Philadelphia voters to decide fate of BRT

Agency assesses property tax bills and hears appeals

A move to abolish the Board of Revision of Taxes or BRT is up for a vote in next week’s primary.

The proposed charter change would dismantle the BRT and split it into two agencies–one for assessing property tax bills under the mayor’s control and the other an independent board to hear appeals. The move is upsetting to many politicians because they have secured patronage jobs for friends at the BRT. Councilman Bill Greenlee is also a ward leader. He says political leaders are jumping on board now that they have secured promises that patronage hires will be retained

“I think the key is though, and we here in Council we’ve been pretty vocal that we want those people protected and we think we’ve heard from various sources in the administration every effort will be made to help them keep their jobs. I think some changes need to happen at the BRT.”

Councilman Greenlee says the charter change has not officially received endorsement by the Democratic City Committee.