Nutter blasts 'rogue' BRT, vows to slash funds

Mayor Nutter came out swinging yesterday at the leaders of the embattled Board of Revision of Taxes, who have refused to extend an agreement that gives assessment powers to the city.

Calling the board a "rogue agency," Nutter pledged to strip the board of its budget and slash the seven members' salaries.

"This agency must be brought under control," he said.

Nutter said the BRT was blocking reform efforts at the agency, which is plagued by a legacy of political patronage and inaccurate assessments, as revealed in an Inquirer series.

"We are extremely disappointed, and quite honestly it's somewhat outrageous what the BRT's inaction has caused," Nutter said.

The BRT last fall agreed to allow the Nutter administration to take over all property-assessment powers, leaving the seven board members to hear only appeals. But that six-month agreement has expired and was not renewed.

Nutter said board members originally indicated that they would extend the agreement, but then changed course. He said he expected to send legislation to Council today or tomorrow that would transfer the BRT budget to the Finance Department and reduce the board members' salaries. They are paid $70,000 for working part time. The mayor would cut that to $18,000.

"It's somewhat hard to run an agency if you don't have budgetary authority," Nutter said.

Next month, residents will vote on a proposal to abolish the BRT and to replace it with two new agencies. If approved, that plan would go into effect in October.

Five BRT board members have sued to halt the vote.

The BRT's surprise move this week stalls the work of attorney Richard Negrin, who was hired to overhaul the city's troubled property-tax system.

A call by the Daily News to the BRT's chairwoman, Charlesretta Meade, was not returned.