Tax talk tops
Tacony’s agenda

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Tax reform activist Brett Mandel was on hand at Tacony Civic Association’s latest meeting to fill folks in on his organization, Philadelphia Forward, and its efforts to equalize the way property values are calculated and subsequently taxed across the city.
Mandel cited four homes across the city that each sold for $250,000. The average city home is assessed at about 32 percent of what it could sell for, while many are assessed higher.
According to the Board of Revision of Taxes, one located in South Philadelphia was valued at $6,400 with a $169.25 tax bill. The Kensington property was valued at $36,600 with a $967.88 tax bill. The Northeast property, located in the 1800 block of Napfle St. was valued at $87,700 with a $2,319.21 tax bill, and one located in North Philadelphia was valued at $125,000 and taxed at $3,305.60.
One valued at $250,000 is actually state Sen. Vincent Fumo’s 27-room mansion that was listed for sale at almost $7 million.
"It’s not fair; it’s not good; it’s not right," Mandel said.
While equality and transparency sounds good, changing the system might scare folks who are afraid their tax bill might skyrocket.
"For every person getting a deal, there are hundreds of thousands paying too much," he said.
Mandel stressed that getting the values right and tax policies such as homestead exemptions and phased deferrals are two different debates.
"Let’s get the values right. Great discussions come later," he said.
Civic board member Camille Capobianco questioned the city’s ability to handle any transition.
"The confidence in the city to implement and do it right is really low," she said.
After Mandel left the meeting, Capobianco said she’d like to tout Northeast Philadelphia’s virtues and low tax rates in a marketing campaign to New Jersey residents and get them to move across the river.
In other business, civic group president Lou Iatarola updated members on the MARC Torresdale Avenue improvements. Work is set to begin this summer on the first phase — new Victorian light poles and flower baskets. The second phase, to begin later this summer, will include traffic calming measures and crosswalk and enhancements.
Tacony residents were asked to mark their calendars for Our Lady of Consolation’s Italian Festival on Sunday, June 22, from 1 to 7:30 p.m. The 17th Tacony History Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 20.
The next Tacony Civic Association meeting will be held at on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Disston Memorial Presbyterian Church, 4500 Tyson Ave. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com