Philly councilman going door to door to alert homeowners of tax break [video]

A Philadelphia city councilman is planning to use his winning campaign tactics to get property owners signed up for the homestead exemption.

Councilman Bobby Henon intends to travel his district, going door to door with a group of volunteers, in an effort to visit about 14,000 homeowners who have not yet signed up for the tax break.

City Council recently extended the deadline to Sept. 13 for homeowners to apply for the tax exemption of up to $30,000 of the property value of their primary residence.

“I understand that people’s lives are busy, I understand that the forms could be a little bit complicated and that they didn’t return it to the city,” Henon said. “In advance of that, I’m trying to be proactive and knocking on doors in addition to supplementing the other means that I have.”

Henon says he’s visited various groups to make sure people are signing up for the exemption.

“I’ve taken out full-page ads in the local papers. I’ve visited civic associations, senior associations, and senior groups that meet on a weekly basis,” he said. “I’ve visited diners and done business walks.”

Henon says he was elected by knocking on doors, and he hopes the personal touch of going door to door will succeed in getting more homeowners to sign up.