READ AND PASSED

The enacted bill changes Philadelphia’s low-income senior citizen property-tax freeze program so participants are billed the lower amount when a tax-rate reduction or lower property assessment would reduce their taxes. The Revenue Department must make this comparison, account for the homestead exemption, and provide information about the calculation and the program’s protections; eligible participants do not need to submit a new application to receive the lower amount.

Amending Chapter 19-2900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Senior Citizen Special Tax Provisions," by providing for those circumstances where a participant in the tax freeze program authorized by that Chapter would owe less taxes as a result of a reduction in the tax rate or the assessed value of the taxpayer's property but for his or her prior enrollment in the program; all under certain terms and conditions.