Squilla wants to phase in Philly’s AVI over four years

A Philadelphia councilman says he wants to take four years to phase in the city’s property tax overhaul.

Rolling out the tax changes more slowly could make for an easier transition to using property assessments reflecting current market values, said Councilman Mark Squilla.

“Phasing has been done in other cities, it’s been done in D.C. and Virginia, where they actually phased it in over time,” he said. “So we have a precedent that it will work so this will hold up in a challenge.”

Squilla suggests implement the resulting tax increases or cuts in 25 percent increments to provide for a slow rollout without costing the city money.

“What we knew from the beginning is the assessment process is a process and it takes time,” he said. “Then we should make a process of implementing it, so it should take several years to get to the 100 percent. I think it’s the fairest way to do it.”

The Squilla bill is one of several to be considered by council.