Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to amend Act 46 to allow the City of Philadelphia to alter the tax rate for the Philadelphia School District's portion of the real estate tax and the City's use and occupancy tax, only to the extent that would maintain the District's current revenue derived from these sources.

WHEREAS, The Board of Revision of Taxes has proposed to reassess all properties within the City of Philadelphia at their full value for tax year 2007; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly passed Act 46 in 1998, declaring the Philadelphia School District “distressed.” Among other provisions, the Act suggests that the City must authorize the same tax rate on current assessments as had been authorized upon the date of the declaration of distress; and

WHEREAS, Under the proposal, property taxes on the individual property owner will drastically increase unless the current tax rates are lowered; and

WHEREAS, It is not the intent of this Council to decrease the amount of revenue the School District derives from either the real estate tax or the use and occupancy tax, but sincerely desires to maintain revenue neutrality in regards to District funding, and, in doing so, protecting Philadelphia's property owners from substantial tax increases; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to amend Act 46 to allow the City of Philadelphia to alter the tax rate for the Philadelphia School District's portion of the real estate tax and the City's use and occupancy tax, only to the extent that would maintain the District's current revenue derived from these sources.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to each member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

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