Gentrification Bill Passes State Senate

The Pennsylvania state Senate passed a bill Tuesday 48-2 to give Philadelphia permission to provide so-called gentrification tax relief only to homeowners who need it most.

Gentrification relief is meant to help longtime homeowners living in areas of the city with explosive growth and rising property taxes.

The city was seeking permission to target that tax break only to homeowners who meet certain economic conditions, making them more vulnerable to rising taxes.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Michael H. O'Brien as part of a package put forward by the Philadelphia House Delegation to soften the impact of the city's property tax system overhaul.

The bill now goes to Gov. Corbett. Two more bills introduced as part of that package await final passage in the Senate, possibly in the coming days.

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