PhillyTablet Inquirer Daily News
Mobile
Home Delivery
philly.com
email
font size
options
 
Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Behind the amnesty
Joan Krajewski

Last week, Council moved forward with a proposal from Joan Krajewski to create a tax amnesty program that would allow people to pay back taxes without penalties, and half the interest.

Today, the Daily News weighs in by reviewing some of the pros and cons of the idea. On the upside, it says, amnesties generally do create revenue -- and the city, as we well know, needs revenue. A lot of it. The downside is that amnesties are unfair to people who pay their taxes on time, and give people an incentive to delay payment.

The paper adds one other thought -- something else that may be behind delinquency.

"We should also be paying closer attention to why people aren't paying their bills. Is it just a coincidence that property taxes are a big category for scofflaws when the city's property-tax system and the Board of Revision of Taxes are so dysfunctional? As long as it's widely perceived to be a dishonest system, it shouldn't surprise us that so many people feel less than compelled to pay their taxes."

Is this sufficient reason for someone to not pay taxes? Definitely not. But it definitely is a good reason (another one) for the city to take the reform of its assessment system seriously, and to do so with all reasonable haste.

Review city services on our sister site, City Howl.
Posted by Doron Taussig @ 8:32 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
Comments   


0 comments
About It's Our Money
Every year, city government spends slightly more than $4 billion. Where does all that money come from? More importantly, where does it go? Are we getting the most bang for our tax buck? “It's Our Money” is a joint project between Philadelphia Daily News and WHYY, funded by the William Penn Foundation, designed to answer these questions.




PHILADELPHIA HORROR STORY

City Hall

When Mayor Nutter introduced his budget he acknowledged several “major financial challenges” facing the city. We prefer to think of them as lurking monsters: The Pension Blob, The property-tax zombie, The School Distric Vampire, Asset sale ghosts, and Council's Bigfoot budget.


PILE OF BOTTLES FILLED WITH URINE

City Howl

The water bottles lying in a pile on Buttonwood Street were not filled with water. Their contents were a mysterious, yellow liquid - one closer to brown, the others the color of lemonade.


WILL CITY COVER $41 MILLION IN STATE CUTS?

 podcast

On this week's It's Our Money podcast, Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein discuss how a budget is a statement of priorities — and also how a mayor needs to be careful what he promises to pay for.

It's Our Money contributors

Tips? Comments? Questions?
Contact:

Doron Taussig:
215-854-5307
doron.taussig@gmail.com
@dorontaussig

Holly Otterbein:
215-854-5809
hm.otterbein@gmail.com
@hollyotterbein

Juliana Reyes:
215-854-5855
juliana.f.reyes@gmail.com
@juliana_f_reyes

Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here