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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Nutter, BRT Agree To Interim Reform

Here's the press release:

NUTTER ADMINISTRATION, BRT REACH AGREEMENT ON INTERIM REFORM

Memorandum of Understanding establishes Interim Executive Director, puts assessment function under responsibility of Finance Department

Philadelphia, October 7 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today an important step toward restoring public confidence in the property tax assessment system. Mayor Nutter and the Board of Revision of Taxes have reached an agreement which establishes the Finance Director (or his Designee) as the Interim Executive Director of the BRT and brings the assessment function under his/her responsibility.

This agreement, detailed in a Memorandum of Understanding, will remain in effect for an initial term of six months. The Interim Executive Director will immediately begin a review of all functions and operations of the BRT which will begin the process of reforming the system.

“I have been very clear that reforming the property tax assessment system is an urgent priority and we need to move as quickly as possible,” said Mayor Nutter. “I am committed to the goal of passing legislation this year which will be put to the voters in May 2010. I believe City Council shares this goal. In the meantime, we need to stabilize the system and restore public confidence, bringing the property tax assessment fully under the responsibility of the executive branch is an important step in this process.”

The Interim Executive Director will supervise all operations of the BRT relating to real estate appraisals, valuations, and assessments. The Board of the BRT will retain responsibility for matters relating to appeals of real estate valuations and will continue to make all determinations in the granting of exemptions to general real estate tax policy and any duties performed by the Board in connection with eminent domain proceedings conducted by the Board of View. The Finance Director shall report to the Mayor while keeping the Board fully apprised of day-to-day operations and future plans. The former Executive Director of the BRT resigned September 4th, 2009.

Mayor Nutter thanked the Board of the BRT for their cooperation on this matter.

Yesterday Mayor Nutter outlined his principles of reform for the BRT, describing a property tax assessment system which is accountable to the Mayor and citizens, which separates the appeals and the assessment functions, and whose employees are subject to the same requirements as other employees of the executive branch. These three components are essential reform components to any final legislative solution to the challenges the property tax assessment system.

“I look forward to continuing to work with City Council as we restore the public’s confidence in the property assessment system,” said Mayor Nutter.
 
Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 4:24 PM  Permalink | 3 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:39 PM, 10/07/2009
    They're going to have to hire someone who is a professional assessor, and who understands normal professional office systems and procedures, and can either train the old BRT staff or fire them. The old BRT staff will try to sabotage data, but honestly, the new AVI assessments are of better quality anyway, and anything the old staff tries to undo or erase would be likely better off replaced after being examined with a fresh eye anyway.
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:46 PM, 10/07/2009
    An essential component of the legislative solution and the executive branch reform is that there is a firewall around BRT staff and work product. Assessments can't be handed out as political favors anymore, and who among the old BRT staff is willing to make that change, or even honestly believes that it is now expected of them?
    — CleanupPhilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:51 PM, 10/07/2009
    You know who deserves a lot of credit for tearing down this wall? Ed Goppelt and Brett Mandel.
    — CleanupPhilly


3 comments
About The Philly Clout Team
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics ­– which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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Catherine Lucey
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Chris Brennan
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