Localmedium impact · 5/10substantive090299

City Council Moves to Cut Tax Breaks for Philly Property Upgrades

Official:Amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," by reducing the amount of real estate taxes to be exempted for certain improvements to, or construction of, certain residential, commercial, industrial or other business properties, under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Clarke

Introduced: April 16, 2009

: Committee on Finance

property development real estate taxes taxation

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2008–2011 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill reduces the amount of real estate taxes that are exempt for certain property improvements and new constructions in Philadelphia. The exemption will be phased out over a period of 10 years.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

The bill reduces the amount of real estate taxes exempted for certain property improvements and new constructions from 100% to 10% over a period of 10 years.
The exemption applies to improvements to or construction of residential, commercial, industrial, or other business properties.
The exemption is phased out as follows: 10% in the 10th year, 20% in the 9th year, 30% in the 8th year, 40% in the 7th year, 50% in the 6th year, 60% in the 5th year, 70% in the 4th year, 80% in the 3rd year, 90% in the 2nd year, and 100% in the 1st year.
The exemption shall terminate after the 10th year, at which point the full amount of the improvement costs will be subject to real estate taxes.

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