Re: [UC] Taxation and the libraries

[Glenn moyer]

so that we can start to straighten out our financial mess and figure out a way to keep the libraries - indeed, the whole city! - open for the long term future. Melani, It's important to separate the library and pool closures from the 5 year budget for right now.  M. Nutter's reaction to the court order shows conclusively that he is using the recession to justify these closures and not merely reacting to the budget problems. The court order confirmed that he was acting inappropriately  and against the law.  While he claims that he has "done his best," he is trying every possible method to avoid proving his case.  Now, he is trying to hurt the library system much more and pit neighborhood against neighborhood. Wouldn't it be better to obey the law and transparently prove the "no-brainer" that he is claiming, rather than to avoid proving his case at all costs?  His reaction to the court order, which confirms that he is bound by democratic process rather than dictatorial authority, is to move ahead with all the transfers anyway! He is not ignoring the letter of the ruling, but he is in contempt of the implicit message.  Forcing the staffs at the 11 to be transfered, and forcing the system to pay overtime drains more money.  It will also put the system into chaos, hurt the morale of the staff and force a confusing and unplanned series of "rolling closures." Delay, intimidate, threaten and blame others are his reactions to keep the secrets of his planned closures.  Is that the leadership style that works best during a financial crisis?  Ironically, the more he delays proving his case, the more he creates a real crisis for the libraries.  But if he indeed never had a compelling case, like his slam-dunk move during the holidays suggested, we have a real problem.  (I attended the 2nd day of the hearing.  His city lawyers, ain't got no case!) Unfortunately, his real reasons for these closures would become apparent during city council proceedings.  So he says, the judge and the people must suspend law and give him dictatorial authority, or we'll be sorry.  He is committed at this point. Long term chages in tax policy, etc. will have nothing to do with stopping the privatization of libraries and pools.  Undoubtedly, you and I are going to need to lead a march on city hall and demand impeachment or jail for the mayor. "The people, united, will never be defeated!" Your comrade, Glenn -----Original Message----- From: mlam...@aol.com Sent: Jan 5, 2009 12:05 AM To: pf...@ccat.sas.upenn.edu, univcity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] Taxation and the libraries In a message dated 1/3/09 7:20:36 PM: ...While the fact that the city needs additional revenue is obvious, any changes to the  property tax structure have to be made with careful deliberation as to the consequences of dramatic increases... Agreed, totally - and remember, I also wrote: ...[Philadelphia Forward] & the BRT have given City Council all sorts of information on how other cities handled the transition as they updated taxes that had gotten way out of whack.  It's important that the elderly, folks on fixed incomes, and others in special situations aren't forced out of their houses if the plan for fair taxation is implemented.  But there are ways to avoid this.... But, the keeping the current system has consequences too:  the taxes are unequal, unfair, and just plain wacky.  There seems to be no logical explanation for the "Market Values" set by the BRT.  See below: here's a close-to-home example of how much we need tax reform, of how obvious it is that the BRT isn't getting the values right.  Right here in University City, each of these four single family properties shown below sold after June 1,  2008.  All sold for the exact same price: $400,000.  And each had been reassessed recently (in 2007) by the BRT.  So you'd expect that the properties would have had similar tax bills, right?  Yet, look at their 2008 tax bills: $400,000 sale price 19143: 426 S. 47th St/ tax $3372/ Market Value per BRT $127,500 19143: 4523 Regent St/ tax $2742/ Market Value per BRT $103,700 19143: 4836 Hazel Ave/ tax $2470/ Market Value per BRT $93,400 19104: 244 S. 45th St/ tax $1962/ Market Value per BRT $74,200 Especially startling is the fact that the only house in the group which is in the catchment area for the Alexander School is paying the lowest tax amount!  The houses that CANNOT send their children to the desirable public school are paying $508, $780, and $1410 MORE than the house from which children CAN attend the school. But these aren't the only single family houses in Philadelphia which sold in that time period for $400,000 - here are a few others.  All had their Market Value set by the BRT in 2007 except for 1511 Kater (set in 2001).  None have partial tax abatements; I checked each one: $400,000 sale price 19119: 7020 McCallum St/ tax $3845/ Market Value per BRT $145,400 19118: 102 W. Highland Ave/ tax $3837/ Market Value per BRT $145,100 19146: 1518 Naudain St/ tax $3189/ Market Value per BRT $120,600 19147: 716 S. Clifton St/ tax $2927/ Market Value per BRT $110,700 19146: 632 S. Bambrey St/ tax $2063/ Market Value per BRT $78,000 19146: 1511 Kater St/ tax $1595/ Market Value per BRT $60,300 19146: 811 S. 17th St/ tax $1542/ Market Value per BRT $58,300 Some of these properties are paying a higher amount in taxes than the University City group, others are paying a lower amount.  Comparing to University City, it appears to be cheaper to own a $400,000 house in the Graduate Hospital area, and more expensive to own a $400,000 house in Chestnut Hill/ Mt. Airy.  But each of the houses has the same sale price!  The taxes on the houses which sold for $400,000 vary from $1542 to $3845!  And the BRT places their values in a range from $58,300 to $145,400!  (NOTE:  we would have to expect the Board of Revision of Taxes (BRT) "Market Values" to be lower than $400,000; the city has fallen so far behind that if the properties were valued at $400,000, the taxes at the current rate (set by City Council years ago, and not changed in the 25+ years I've been selling real estate) would be way too high.  But, we should be able to expect that all properties selling for about $400,000 would have ABOUT THE SAME BRT "Market Value" - yet clearly that isn't the case.) So once again, I'm suggesting that we need to press City Council and the BRT to get the taxes RIGHT, to assess everyone FAIRLY, so that we can start to straighten out our financial mess and figure out a way to keep the libraries - indeed, the whole city! - open for the long term future. - Melani Lamond Melani Lamond, Associate Broker Urban & Bye, Realtor PA License Number AB048377L 3529 Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19104 cell phone 215-356-7266 - office phone 215-222-4800 #113   ************** New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026) ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see .