Heard in the Hall

Supreme Court denies BRT's bid to stop May election

Philadelphia City Hall and political coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer City Hall bureau.

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Supreme Court denies BRT's bid to stop May election

POSTED: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 5:14 PM

Patrick Kerkstra

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today refused to strike from the May 18 primary ballot a charter change that - if approved by voters - would abolish the Board of Revision of Taxes.

The ruling, which the court issued without comment, means it is almost certain that voters will have the chance to weigh in on the BRT's fate next month.

The BRT's suit contended that the city lacked the authority to completely dismantle the seven-member board. It argues that the state legislature specifically vested assessment appeals powers with the BRT, and required that BRT leaders be appointed by the city's judiciary.

The proposed charter change would dismantle the BRT and split it into two new agencies: an office of property assessment under the indirect control of the mayor, which would set property values, and an independent board to hear property assessment appeals.

More to come soon...

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Comments (16)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:08 PM, 04/28/2010

Voters, unless you show your not willing to let the Mayor and Council keep such large staff, most that are overpaid, then you get what you deserve. All other major cities are cutting back 15 to 25% of staff in row offices and we need to cut back Council since our population is down. Don't let them keep getting away with this government is no hiring and should be firing. Corporations do it and so do other governments, why not Philly.

— concerns25