WHAT A DIFFERENCE SIX MONTHS MAKES

On Wednesday, January 9th, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran an article with the headline “City tax board holds off on full-value assessment.”  The article reported:

Members of the city's Board of Revision of Taxes yesterday said they wouldn't implement the proposed full-value assessment system until the City Council and state legislature acted to protect property owners from devastating tax increases. "We can't do it - it's a whole group of things that need to be done," said board member Alan K. Silberstein. Silberstein and other members said they were awaiting state legislation that would allow Philadelphia to enact special homestead exemptions, and for City Council to enact other protections to shield homeowners from extreme increases in their property assessments and tax bills.

But, the article noted that one voice was heard taking the contrary view. 

Among those arguing their appeals yesterday was Brett Mandel, executive director of the tax-reform organization Philadelphia Forward. He told board members they were compelled by law to provide fair and accurate assessments. "The Board of Revision of Taxes has one job - to get the valuation right," Mandel said.

Just six months later, a July 18th Philadelphia Daily News headline read, “Tax board going ahead with reassessment.”