Philly councilman wants payment delay when property assessment questioned [video]

Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla, D-1st, wants to give property owners who appeal their new tax assessments a grace period until their appeal is decided.

Squilla says people shouldn’t have to pay their new, higher taxes if the amount is under dispute.

“Our main concern during this process was that a bill generated by the revenue department would go out before the appeals would be completed. Once that bill goes out, especially if you have a mortgage, that mortgage company would pay the bill. This would only allow them to bill the amount of the previous year until the appeal is completed.”

He says the proposal is the only way to handle the issue of erroneous assessments.

“Especially when we have an assessment citywide, this would be the most fair way to be able to bill the residents. Not having them have to pay or have their mortgage company have to pay the bill, knowing that assessment is incorrect.”

The bill will be considered as part of the council budget process.