Committee of the Whole: Budget Hearing 04-29-2026 (Afternoon)

The Philadelphia City Council held a Committee of the Whole budget hearing on April 29, 2026, focusing primarily on the Office of Property Assessment's (OPA) fiscal year 2027 operating budget and related property tax assessment issues. Key procurement-related discussions included OPA's plan to retain an external consulting firm to evaluate the 2027 property revaluation against industry standards and to conduct a comprehensive review of mass appraisal practices. The budget also includes funding for customer relations management software to improve public outreach and additional resources for reassessment service call centers and mailing services. Council members raised concerns about delays in lot consolidations and subdivisions affecting tax revenue collection, the impact of school closures on property values, and the transparency and clarity of assessment notices to taxpayers. The council requested detailed data on commercial property appeals and their impact on tax revenue. The administration committed to providing district-level reassessment data before mailing notices and indicated a forthcoming report from a task force addressing potential racial biases in property assessments, with recommendations expected later in the spring. Staffing challenges and recruitment efforts for OPA were also discussed, with 46 vacancies noted and plans to fill positions through promotions and new hires. No formal votes or motions were recorded during the session.