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Latest on the BRT
Backroom bargaining led to BRT deal
The historic deal that promises to remake the property-assessment system in Philadelphia started with a meeting between the city's powerful Democratic leader and a sick old man.
BRT Task Force Report

Read the report to Mayor Nutter and City Council here:

 
Memorandum from the BRT Governance Working Group BRT Governance Options
 
Memorandum from the BRT Governance Working Group The Actual Value Initiative and Property Tax Relief
 
Appendix A
 
Appendix B
 
Tax Travesty Complete Coverage: Story archive, graphics and more.
Tax Travesty fallout
Tax board stripped of major power
Mayor offers a plan to replace the BRT
The BRT: Fine-tune it or flush it?
Report highlights BRT's tax-exempt assessment problems
City Council stumbles over a BRT reform bill
Parents' group threatens suit over district BRT workers
New BRT numbers don't add up
Business As Usual at the BRT
Under pressure, tax board director resigns
Records show BRT worker sold parts to SEPTA on company time
Fired from BRT, Fumo ally sues to get job back
Phila. leaders in no rush to fix BRT
SRC adopts $3.2 billion schools budget
New BRT data may be flawed from the start
Assessments are better, but inaccurate property records could leave "actual value" just an illusion.
City judges fire BRT board member Russo
SRC chairman wants BRT jobs off school payroll
Report: Top assessor evaded tax
An electrical supply company operating out of his house, run by his wife, has never paid business-privilege taxes.
Mayor, Council reach an accord on tax rise
Models for fixing the BRT
The steps aren't hard, advocates say, and other places have pointed a way. But does Phila. have the political will?
BRT to Nutter: We’re staying
Nutter calls for resignation of all BRT members
Nutter, Verna vow to remake or disband BRT
Mayor, Council zero in on BRT
The BRT is just so Philadelphia
City Council grills the BRT
Green: Reform BRT
PART ONE
Patronage and politics, secrecy and disarray
Can the BRT finally fix property valuation? Maybe, but that’s the tip of the iceberg.
An Inquirer investigation raises questions about whether the Board of Revision of Taxes is capable of handling the complex and politically sensitive task of repairing Philadelphia’s broken tax system.
PART THREE
Jacking up taxes as payback
Property owner won't sell? Fumo's response: Try to jack up taxes.
Part 3: When owners refused to sell a property wanted by Vincent J. Fumo, the enraged state senator decided to "really f- him over." His weapon: the city Board of Revision of Taxes. The board promptly doubled the assessment.
Tax Tools
 
"ACTUAL VALUE INITIATIVE" TAX ESTIMATES: Look up the new and current values for nearly any property in the city, the current tax bill on the property, and The Inquirer's estimation of what the tax might be once new assessments are adopted.
 
BRT Web Site: Search for current property valuation data
 
Transcript of Chat: Reporters Mark Fazlollah and Joe Tanfani answer readers questions
Tax Travesty Reactions
 
Editorial: The latest from the BRT
 
Commentary: Patronage can help cities thrive
 
Editorial: Closing for the summer
 
Editorial: Get the BRT off school payroll
 
Letters: Hardworking employees at BRT deserve respect
 
Editorial: Detached reality
 
Editorial: Here's hoping he's only the first to go
 
Reaction: Young Philly Politics Blog on the series
 
Editorial: Keep pressure on the BRT
 
Editorial: Corrupt to the core
 
Editorial: Abolish the BRT
 
Editorial: Can the BRT be fixed?
Tony Auth on the BRT
Tony Auth / Inquirer
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