City of Philadelphia - File #: 130098

• File #: 130098
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 2/7/2013
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Title: Authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to hold public hearings on vacant, tax delinquent properties in the City, the impact of such properties on the City, and the procedures that the City currently employs and proposes to employ to collect delinquent real estate taxes from such properties and the efficacy of those procedures.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Bass, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Tasco
• Indexes: REAL ESTATE TAX, VACANT PROPERTY

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
3/20/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING NOTICES SENT
3/20/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING HELD
3/20/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	RECESSED
3/19/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING NOTICES SENT
3/19/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING HELD
3/19/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	RECESSED
2/7/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
2/7/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to hold public hearings on vacant, tax delinquent properties in the City, the impact of such properties on the City, and the procedures that the City currently employs and proposes to employ to collect delinquent real estate taxes from such properties and the efficacy of those procedures.
Body
WHEREAS, It is essential that Philadelphia taxpayers have faith and trust in the City's tax collection process and procedures; and

WHEREAS, Such trust can exist only if it is clear that the City diligently, comprehensively, and in a timely manner pursues and collects the taxes that are due it; and

WHEREAS, It is only fair to all taxpayers to collect all taxes due to the City; and

WHEREAS, On February 4, 2013 the City of Philadelphia announced that new delinquent tax collection strategies will be employed to increase collection rates and improve taxpayer confidence in the collections processes; and

WHEREAS, Any changes to the processes, procedures and policies employed by the City to collect delinquent taxes, specifically delinquent real estate taxes, should be made based on information and data that is shared with City Council; and

WHEREAS, City Council is committed to engaging the Administration in a productive conversation aimed at better understanding the technology, staff, training, best practices, legislation, and funding needed to achieve increased tax collection rates; and additional burdens on tax collection; and

WHEREAS, Tax delinquent properties that are vacant pose unique problems for the City, including safety concerns; and

WHEREAS, Vacant, tax delinquent properties can dilapidate quickly, attract unwanted squatters, blight neighborhoods and negatively impact property value; and

WHEREAS, A 2010 report produced for the Redevelopment Authority by Econsult Corporation estimated that there are 17,000 vacant parcels within the City that are tax delinquent; that 11,000 of those pa...