On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, Philadelphia City Council will meet to consider Bill No. 090706, legislation introduced by Councilman Bill Green that would strip the Board of Revision of Taxes ("BRT") of its duties and responsibilities and assign them to two new city agencies.

City Council is committed to passing a bill that makes certain that the citizens of Philadelphia have a property tax system that they can trust, that adheres to the highest standards of professionalism and under which all citizens are treated equally. It is critical that Council receives public input to ensure that these goals are accomplished. Thus, on behalf of Councilman Green, I am extending an invitation for public testimony at the hearing on this legislation.

Given the expected turnout for the hearing, it is important to note that the bill being considered concerns only the governance structure of the BRT. This legislation does not address tax rates or the proposed Actual Value Initiative. While both of these issues are of critical import and will be addressed in future hearings, they are outside the scope of Bill No. 090706. Therefore, I respectfully request that your testimony focus on changes to the governance structure of the BRT and any suggested improvements to the legislation.

The hearing for the BRT legislation is scheduled for 11 a.m. on October 27, 2009 in Room 400 of City Hall. If you are interested in testifying, please contact Councilman Green's office at (215) 686-3420 or e-mail Lauren.Vidas@phila.gov or Sophie.Bryan@phila.gov.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Lauren Vidas
Legislative Aide to Councilman Bill Green
Room 595 City Hall
(215) 686-3420
lauren.vidas@phila.gov