We received a notice our taxes will increase from $1900 to $8900...(b

**GraduateFamily** · 09-22-2012, 12:18 PM

Is this because Council has not finalized the "millage"? We have 30 days to appeal...and we are terrified we are going to lose our home. Our neighbors paid three times as much for their house, and their taxes are less than half of what we pay (I do not if they have received a reassessment.)

I would really appreciate any support or clarify people can provide.

**BarryG** · 09-22-2012, 12:59 PM

I thought reassessments were on moratorium until the city-wide reassessment is complete.

**mixiboi** · 09-22-2012, 01:12 PM

Sounds like FUD mailing, where did the letter come from?

**bp_** · 09-22-2012, 01:13 PM

Maybe this explains it? Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter Warns Homeowners Of Confusion Over Tax Bills « CBS Philly

**BarryG** · 09-22-2012, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by bp_

Maybe this explains it? Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter Warns Homeowners Of Confusion Over Tax Bills « CBS Philly

The PDF calendar linked from that article (http://cbsphilly.files.wordpress.com...3-and-2014.pdf) says that the new AVI assessments will be mailed in February 2013, but also has the following

September 17, 2012:

Tax Year 2013 Assessment Change Notices Mailed

Although most properties’ assessed values will remain unchanged from last year, approximately 25,000 properties will have a change and receive notice of the new values. Properties with no change will not receive a notice.

So yeah looks like OP got reassessed and screwed...

**mixiboi** · 09-22-2012, 01:38 PM

But it's not due this year, correct?

**GraduateFamily** · 09-22-2012, 02:09 PM

The notice was from OPA and yes, we did get screwed. No one else on my block received a notice. The Homestead Discount was not applied. A renovation for improvements was not applied. We are going to hire an attorney and I am going to scan and e-mail the property tax increase notice to every news and social media outlet I can find. If it's a choice between foreclosure or a one time payment to an attorney for less than the annual increase, we will pay the attorney and fight this tooth and nail.

It's disgusting. We moved to the neighborhood when it was a sh*t hole, cleaned up tons of garbage, fought against our crack addict neighbor after he was released from prison for killing his aunt, watched the fugitives task force break down doors, got our kids to sleep driving around and writing down license plate numbers of abandoned cars, and we are being told to take our kids, lose our sweat equity, and get out. I can never vote Republican, but I understand the anger that drives people to vote Republican.

**ShoshTrvls** · 09-22-2012, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by GraduateFamily

A renovation for improvements was not applied.

What do you mean by this? To the best of my knowledge, unless you did a rehab qualifying for the 10 year abatement, there's no "credit" for a renovation. Is it possible you are coming off of an abatement?

Before you go off the deep end with the media, etc., maybe give the OPA a call and see if you can find out the reason for the jump.

**BarryG** · 09-22-2012, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

But it's not due this year, correct?

As I read it: the assessment OP received is for tax year 2013. The confusion the article is attempting to allay is for the citywide assessments that are being mailed around the same time as the tax year 2013 tax bills, but won't be used for tax bills until 2014.

**GraduateFamily** · 09-22-2012, 02:53 PM

We received two ten year abatements for improvements.
One has expired. Even when both are applied, our taxes will still go up 200%.

My family has been threatened with losing our home and you think I should not react strongly? I worked for the City for 14 years and I have no intention of wasting my time with OPA. Been there, done that.

**ShoshTrvls** · 09-22-2012, 03:18 PM

How do you get 2 abatements for one property? (Really, just curious, I thought you could only have one per property). Also, I don't think the homestead exemption kicks in until AVI, but I may be wrong on that.

As for the OPA, a few years back I had a question about my tax bill, and I called and got an answer. I didn't like the answer, mind you, but they did explain what had happened.

**thoth** · 09-22-2012, 03:33 PM

What's the risk in calling and asking if it's erroneous?

**GraduateFamily** · 09-22-2012, 04:06 PM

1) You can receive multiple abatements for improvements as long as they were distinct projects with separate building permits. The abatement is for the amount on the building permit;

2) It's not erroneous, and I am not going to waste my time with OPA. The last time I dealt with them was because they lost the tax abatement form I had provided and it took three days of multiple visits to get them to accept a time/date stamped copy.

I don't give political donations to local politicians and the bottom line is that a political operative at OPA or BRT will decide our case based on politics and not facts. Since I have 27 days as of Monday to appeal, I am going to spend my time preparing to defend my home. Just like Ori, the only way to get the City to act is public shaming.

**notatouron** · 09-22-2012, 04:13 PM

We got a similar notice. They increased our assessed value by 50% and raised our tax bill by the same percentage. There was no appraisal, or any inquiry to us whatsoever. We did interior renovations on the house two years ago and pulled permits for it, which is what we think triggerred it. So it appears they are trying to penalize us for investing in improving our property. Brilliant way to incentivize homeowners.

Interestingly, we refinanced recently, after the imrpovements, and the difference between the appraisal when we bought the house and the new appraisal was modest. For the price of a stamp the city could have sent us a form letter requesting copies of all known appraisals. I guess it's too much to expect the city to use some basic common sense and attempt to marshall at least some facts before they try to get away with something like this

We are going to hire the most connected attorney with the most experience with this type of case whom we can find, and fight this as far as we can take it. I know there was a previous class action about property taxes against the city that got dismissed, but if anyone is interested in exploring a class action related to this latest action by the city, send me a PM.

**The Count** · 09-22-2012, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by GraduateFamily

Is this because Council has not finalized the "millage"? We have 30 days to appeal...and we are terrified we are going to lose our home.

How/why would you lose your home over this?

**GraduateFamily** · 09-22-2012, 04:49 PM

If you do not pay your taxes, and you do not meet certain thresholds (age, income and connections) the City will take you down. It is called a Sheriff's Sale and we are great poster people for tough enforcement just as we are for spot reassessment. If we lose our appeal, we will have to sell our house and leave the City before eviction in order to maintain any hope for our financial future.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 09-22-2012, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by GraduateFamily

If you do not pay your taxes, and you do not meet certain thresholds (age, income and connections) the City will take you down. It is called a Sheriff's Sale and we are great poster people for tough enforcement just as we are for spot reassessment. If we lose our appeal, we will have to sell our house and leave the City before eviction in order to maintain any hope for our financial future.

I understand. It's an impossibly huge jump from $1900 to $8900 in one year. No one budgets for that sort of increase without ample notice. Do you have a twitter account? If not, set one up and if you do, tweet the mayor and some news outlets and shame them into looking into this wholly.

**ShoshTrvls** · 09-22-2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

I understand. It's an impossibly huge jump from $1900 to $8900 in one year. No one budgets for that sort of increase without ample notice. Do you have a twitter account? If not, set one up and if you do, tweet the mayor and some news outlets and shame them into looking into this wholly.

Really, does no one think that the first step might be to actually inquire about the bill before rushing to the mayor and the press? Ori's success at generating sympathy is in no small measure based on the fact that he went to the city/RDA first and only when he couldn't engage them did he go public.

Just a thought ....

**Hospitalitygirl** · 09-22-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by ShoshTrvls

Really, does no one think that the first step might be to actually inquire about the bill before rushing to the mayor and the press? Ori's success at generating sympathy is in no small measure based on the fact that he went to the city/RDA first and only when he couldn't engage them did he go public.

Just a thought ....

*MY* first step would be to call and find out, then take it media.

**BarryG** · 09-22-2012, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by GraduateFamily

1) You can receive multiple abatements for improvements as long as they were distinct projects with separate building permits. The abatement is for the amount on the building permit;

2) It's not erroneous, and I am not going to waste my time with OPA. The last time I dealt with them was because they lost the tax abatement form I had provided and it took three days of multiple visits to get them to accept a time/date stamped copy.

I don't give political donations to local politicians and the bottom line is that a political operative at OPA or BRT will decide our case based on politics and not facts. Since I have 27 days as of Monday to appeal, I am going to spend my time preparing to defend my home. Just like Ori, the only way to get the City to act is public shaming.

What aren't you telling us that you are so certain that this was a deliberate, vindictive act?