After our last message, many members of the Constituency for Change responded, incredulous that Real Estate Taxation is truly so unfair, but the numbers just do not lie and our true examples drove the point home. Some asked for more examples and I am happy to oblige. Trust me, this is not hard to do. The system is a mess and anyone can find examples of inequity that makes the city's move to increase assessments and tax bills without fixing the system akin to fraud. Here, again, is the problem in a nutshell: looking recent Real Estate Transactions, two very different homes were recently sold for two very different prices, but look at the tax bills -- the more valuable home is paying much less in taxes.
936 S. 2nd Street Street (19147) $415,000 -- Purchase Price ($90,300 BRT Value) -- $2,387.97 Annual Tax Bill A 3-Story Row Home in Queen Village 7100 Wissahickon Avenue (19119) $150,000 -- Purchase Price ($251,700 BRT Value) -- $6,656.16 Annual Tax Bill A Detached 3-Story Home with detached garage West Mount Airy Every day that we do not correct this system is a fraud perpetuated against city property owners. The trouble is, I get emails like this... Our house's assessment went up by $3,000 and our tax bill increased by about $85. (We bought it for $20K more than the assessment, as anybody who can read the record of sale could find out.) ...from owners of properties who think they are getting a good deal and are fearful that if they appeal, they might pay more -- but they don't realize that OTHERS ARE GETTING AN EVEN BETTER DEAL. All property owners should appeal their assessments -- no matter how undervalued your house is, SOMEONE is getting a better deal than you and that is not right. To review appeal proceedures, visit -- _http://brtweb.phila.gov/brt.apps/OnlineApps/appeal_home.aspx._ (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=9&url=http://brtweb.phila.gov/brt.apps/OnlineApps/ap peal_home.aspx) Appealers should cite "nonuniformity" as the reason for appeal -- homes with similar values are paying different tax bills -- as the reason for the appeal. As we move toward the October 1st appeal deadline, Philadelphia Forward will be working to educate Philadelphians about the problems with the current system and how they can appeal their assessments. As a service, we will supply homeowners with data and examples of homes that are dramatically underassessed -- paying taxes on 10 percent of their recent purchase price -- to substantiate their appeal claim of "nonuniformity."Philadelphia Forward created an interactive web resource on its website to illustrate that similar homes in different parts of the city are taxed DIFFERENTLY -- and that some are paying too much while others aren't paying their fair share. You can access all the information here -- _http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/reassessment_ (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=10&url=http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/reassessment) For more information about the Tax Reform Commission's conclusions about the unfairness of the current system and recommendations to fix what is wrong to make Real Estate Taxation fair and understandable, visit -- _http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/citywide_reassessment_ (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=11&url=http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/ci tywide_reassessment) (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=12&url=http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/citywide_reassessment) (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=13&url=http://www.cafepress .com/philaforward.133453085) (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=14&url=https://secure.democracyinaction.org/philaforward .133453085) Brett Mandel, Philadelphia Forward Executive Director "WORST BLOCK IN CITY" PAYS HIGHER EFFECTIVE TAX RATE THAN RITTENHOUSE SQUARE TOWN HOUSE Last week's Philadelphia Weekly offered a cover story about a particularly sorry neighborhood block. But, as troubled as the 3200 Block of Hurley Street is, residents are still saddled with a higher effective tax rate than a tony Rittenhouse Square town house. Here's the lead: Hurley Street?a tiny West Kensington side street between C and D just north of Allegheny, where residents park their cars halfway on the sidewalk?is so narrow you can stand on one side and spit onto to the other. The margin of error on streets this size is razor thin, and drivers here tend not to take much care. A lot of cars on Hurley get clipped, which is why so many are missing side mirrors. There's no reason to drive down Hurley unless you're here to cop a bag of wet, weed or Xanies. But then most of the buyers are locals on foot looking for nickels and dimes. Hurley Street, say cops who work North Philadelphia, may be the worst block in the city. Most of its 100 or so residents say they'd leave if they could. Most Hurley Street residents rent the squat two-story brick row homes they live in. The houses are worth about $13,000 each. (_Full Article_ (http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=406165181&url_num=15&url=http://www.ph iladelphiaweekly.com/articles/15286) ) Looking at the Board of Revision of Taxes' data, indeed, the city values most homes on the 3200 block of Hurley Street at $13,400. Between 2005 and 2007, 14 homes on this squalid block have sold for an average price of $33,569 (the most recent sale was $38,864). So homes on the "city's worst block" are being taxed on about 40 percent of their true, resale value. The last row home to sell on the 1900 Block of Rittenhouse Square Street, just off Philadelphia's swankiest square, sold in 2004 for $1,100,000. It is valued for tax purposes at only $300,000. So this home on one of the city's best blocks is being taxed on about 27% of its true, resale value. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
