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From YouTube: Philadelphia City Council Budget Hearings 5-10-2016 Callbacks - Office of Property Assessment
Description
Meeting of Council's Committee of the Whole to hear testimony on the following bills/resolutions: Bill Nos. 160170, 160171, and 160172 & Resolution No. 160180 regarding the FY2017 Capital Budget.
Testimony from:
Michael Piper, Chief Assessment Officer, Office of Property Assessment
http://phlcouncil.com/FY17-council-budget-center
A
B
Good
afternoon
councilman,
Heenan
and
members
of
council,
my
name
is
Michael
Piper
I'm,
the
chief
assessment
office
officer
of
the
office
of
property
assessment
and,
in
addition
to
several
of
my
staff
members,
I,
have
with
me
the
office
of
property
assessments,
administrative
service
director
to
my
left,
Alicia
wilds,
and
a
deputy
chief
assessment
officer.
James
arrows
jr.
A
B
A
B
A
C
D
Okay,
I
do
have
one
question
if
I
may
mr.
chair,
so
one
of
the
open
conversations
have
been
around
the
OPA
assessments
and
the
administration
and
I
think
councilman
green
pressed
on
this
last
time
continues
to
take
the
position
that
we
don't
have
the
capacity
to
do
reassessments
as
quickly
as
as
we
would
want
the
controller's
office
put
out
a
report
last
week
that
says
that
there's
potentially
30
million
dollars
on
the
table.
What
is
your
response
for
that?.
B
We
continue
to
try
to
update
the
assessments
in
our
task,
while
we're
tasked
with
is
making
sure
that
the
assessments
are
correct
and
accurate
and
uniform,
and
we
understand
the
connection
between
the
assessments
and
the
revenue
that
the
city
may
be
looking
for.
But
we
don't
address.
Issues
have
to
do
with
the
taxes.
D
B
The
RFP
has
been
responded
to
and
where
we
are,
with,
the
with
the
camera
process
is
quite
far
along
I
think
we're
pretty
close
to
actually
having
a
vendor
without
having
to
say
too
much
about
where
the
negotiations
are.
At
this
point,
my
that
aside,
the
assessment
process
is
an
annual
process
and
it
involves
an
annual
cycle
and
it's
a
good
thing.
It
does
it's
directly
related
to
when
the
tax
bills
are
sent
out.
B
So
if
you
look
at
when
folks
are
responsible
for
paying
their
taxes,
it's
a
certain
amount
of
time
after
the
bills
are
sent
out,
but
before
the
bills
are
sent
out,
we're
responsible
for
giving
the
revenue
department,
the
assessment
role
and
I
can
kind
of
back
the
time
line
up.
Just
to
show
you
how
it
is
that
we've
actually
started
doing
the
commercial
reassessment.
We've
started
the
initial
process
for
that
already,
even
though
that's
something
that
won't
be
completely
finished
until
March,
the
31st
of
2017.
B
E
D
Plan
should
not
be
okay,
and
some
of
us
don't
think
it's
okay,
we've
said
it
I
think
publicly.
We've
said
it
and
I'm
just
hopeful
that
before
we
end
this
budget
process,
there
is
a
revision
of
that
plan.
We're
not
asking
people
to
cut
corners,
we're
asking
we're
I'm
asking
what
is
it
that
we
need
to
get
there
quicker,
because
we
passed
a
law
that
says
we
were
gonna,
do
annual
assessments
and
we're
not
I.
B
D
Better
place
that
there
is
not
a
public
perception
that
we're
leaving
money
on
the
table
at
a
time
when
we
need
it,
particularly
in
light
of
the
fact
that
over
the
next
few
years,
the
school
districts
gonna
come
back
to
us
next
year.
They're
gonna
have
a
hundred
million
dollar
deficit.
I
mean
you
don't
need
to
make
those
financial
decisions.
We
do
but
I
feel
handicapped
when
I
don't
know
how
we
get
to
a
better
place
so
that
we
can
assure
people
that
we
don't
take
the
taxing
of
folks
lightly.
Sure.
D
E
E
Just
don't
see
how
I
mean
what
type
of
assurance
can
you
give
not
only
this
body,
but
also
the
public
at
large
when
we're
next
you're
going
to
go
to
commercial
and
then
go
through
the
full
implementation
of
camera?
That's
going
to
be
done
correctly
and
I.
Think
that's
one
of
the
the
frustrations
and
challenges
that
I've
seen,
especially
considering
I've
been
in
and
around
this
building
for
a
period
of
time.
B
I'm
glad
you
brought
up
the
2017
reassessment
project,
because
this
is
sort
of
an
example
of
where
what
we
do
from
year
to
year
is
always
going
to
be
imperfect.
However,
the
goal
is
to
try
to
tighten
up
the
reassessment,
so
you
you
know,
ideally
we're
going
to
have
commercial/residential
within
a
year
or
two
of
what
the
market
shows
us.
It
should
be,
which
is
considered
pretty
tight,
because
we
are
always
reacting
to
historical
sales.
B
The
land
reassessment
project
that
we
are
in
the
process
of
completing
took
a
little
over
a
year
and
the
reason
it
takes
so
long
and
the
reason
assessment
is
typically
take
about
a
year
is
because,
when
we're
finished
with
the
process,
we
have
to
be
in
a
position
to
defend
them
from
the
type
of
criticism
that
we
see
coming
in
and
what
we
just
did
it.
It
means
that
when
a
when
we
do
mass
appraisal
and
a
taxpayer
comes
in
and
asserts
that
we've
done
something
incorrect
or
the
values
inaccurate
or
it's
not
uniform.
B
Even
though
we've
done
mass
appraisal
for
over
400,000
properties,
we
have
to
look
at
each
one
of
those
properties
individually
and
address
that
particular
appeal
has
a
single
property.
We
have
to
be
able
to
say,
okay.
What
we
did
in
the
context
of
this
reassessment
was
correct.
Here's
why
or
the
taxpayer
brings
us
something
that
says.
Well,
maybe
you
didn't
understand
this.
You
didn't
know
Mike.
The
condition
of
my
property
was
not
average
but
below
average
and
and
that
Southie
the
appeal
process
works.
B
We
look
forward
to
getting
the
flr
as
the
first
level
review
the
informal
appeal
application
is
coming
in,
so
we
can
get
an
idea
of
what
we
did
and
see
if
there's
something
we
were
missing
in
some
areas,
because
we've
heard
from
tax
payers
and
as
I'm
sure
you
guys
have
that
there's
something
on
some
blocks.
That
might
not
look
right.
So
we
need
to
know
that.
That's
how
we
address
it.
What.
E
E
Reference
to
assessments
to
pee
I
mean
this
just
this
entire
process.
This
seems
very
either
convoluted
from
the
issues.
I've
talked
with
people
that
I
know
who
had
just
trying
to
get
to,
and
here
I
Minister
it's
been
a
significant
backlog
of
process,
and
it
seems
that
we,
why
can't
we
dedicate
more
resources
now
and
have
that's
part
of
this
budget
process
in
order
to
address
some
issues
were
having
with
OPA
okay.
B
So
I
think
the
hearing
process
when
he
appeals
there
was
a
backlog
as
a
result
of
what
we
did
for
avi
and
it
took
I'm
gonna,
say
up
into
now
to
kind
of
stem
the
flood
of
you
know
the
part
of
the
process
in
which
BRT
EOP
a
has
been
working
on
managing
appeal,
hearings
and
processing
revisions
as
a
result
of
those
hearings,
as
you
know,
when
we
first
did
this
in
2014,
we
had
over
50,000
informal
appeals
and
over
25,000
formal
BRT
appeals,
and
we
were
not.
We
did.
We
were
short
on
resources.
B
B
E
I
some
more
questions,
but
my
time
is
up
at
this
point.
So
as
we
get
ready
for
the
process
in
a
few
years,
are
we
gonna
be
poor,
although
won't
nearly
be
the
same
level
as
it
was
from
a
few
years
ago,
they're
still
a
little
possibility
of
an
increase
of
Appeals
and
you're
saying
our
computerized
system
is
gonna,
be
able
to
handle
that,
and
our
process
will
then
have
been
streamlined,
organized
we'll
be
able
to
handle
any
increase
in
volume
when.
B
We
have
a
camera
system
in
place
in
a
couple
years.
When
we
do
a
comprehensive
reassessment,
it
should
be
able
to
handle
any
type
of
a
backlog,
especially
if
it's
something
that
was
at
the
level
of
what
we
got
I
wouldn't
expect
that
it
would
be
more
because
you're
not
going
to
see
the
substantial
changes
that
you
did
in
2014
when
we
do
this
again
and
as
far
as
what
we're
doing
this
year,
I
can
tell
you.
B
B
A
F
G
G
And
helping
the
city
grow,
the
problem
is,
we
haven't.
We
can't
we
haven't,
captured
those
values,
as
you
know,
in
our
taxation,
but
it's
much
better
than
Oh
708
when
market
values
were
going
down
and
we
were
losing
money
okay.
So
this
is
our
time
basically
I
run
time
here
from
I
can
fly.
Colleagues.
This
is
our
time
to
at
least
capture
those
values
of
revenue
that
we
should
have
in
city's
hands.
So
that's
I
think
what
I'm
hearing,
but
it's
a
good
problem
to
have
it's
good,
not
a
bad
thing.
G
I
have
one
question:
I,
don't
know
how
to
answer
it.
I
thought
about
it.
After
a
that's
seen,
you
in
that
I
should
have
asked
you,
but
someone
called
me,
the
guy
who
wrote
an
article
this
weekend,
the
guy
who
wrote
the
article
said
to
me.
Tell
me
your
opinion
as
to
why
a
vacant
piece
of
land
on
my
block
is
valued
at
pick
a
number
ten
thousand
dollars,
and
why
my
property,
which
has
a
market
value
of
pick
a
number
300
thousand-
has
a
market
value
of
75
thousand
for
the
piece
of
land.
B
Debt,
that's
an
easy
answer
actually
and
I
think
maybe
we
have
not
emphasize
this
enough
and
the
information
we've
tried
to
put
out
there,
but
the
answer
to
that
is
the
vacant.
Land
parcels
that
are
in
residential
areas
are
part
of
this
year's
reassessment
project.
Okay,
it's
the
part
that
remains
unfinished
and
by
the
end
of
June,
has
part
of
the
2017
reassessment.
You'll,
see
new
values
for
pretty
much
all
30,000
or
so
vacant
land
parcels,
that's
a
fair
question,
but
you
know
we're
getting
it
every
day.
That's.
B
D
You
so
again
going
back
to
our
to
our
timeline.
It
took
me
several
years,
but
we
finally
got
the
administration,
the
previous
administration,
to
invest
in
lidar
technology
and
I'm
hopeful
that
moving
forward
the
city
would
make
an
annual
investment
in
lidar
technology.
How
could
that
help
you
in
building
out
your
camera
system
for
accuracy
purposes
which.
B
D
B
C
Afternoon,
councilman
Sanchez
council,
president
Clark,
as
mr.
Piper
said,
my
name
is
James
hours
and
the
deputy
chief
assessment
officer
at
the
OPA.
As
far
as
the
lidar
technology
I've
been
on
a
task
force
with
members
of
OIT
and
other
departments
where
there's
a
vacant
property
sort
of
model
that
they're
coming
up
with,
and
we've
tested
some
of
the
information
that
they've
sent
over
to
us
and
based
on
their
model
and
and
using
our
information
to
see
where
maybe
there's
some
differences.
C
We've
been
able
to
pick
up
some
properties
that
we
would
have
no
other
indicators
of
knowing
that
they
were
vacant
or
abandoned
just
from
walking
by
the
street
from
the
outside,
because
they
weren't
boarded
up.
They
weren't
sealed
in
any
permanent
fashion.
So
it
would
help
us
in
terms
of
the
accuracy,
as
far
as
being
able
to
identify
properties
that
have
been
unoccupied
for
long
periods
of
time.
C
And
then,
if
we
were
coating
that
as
a
property
that
was
say
well,
we
would
consider
an
average
condition
and
occupied
and
we
were
able
to
pick
up
that
information
which
is
really
a
source
that
we
didn't
have
access
to.
Before
we
would
be
able
to
update
our
data
a
little
quicker
there's
a
couple
different
technologies
that
OIT
is
looking
at
it
looking
to
invest
in
and
all
of
them
are
really
great
tools.
That
would
help
us
do
a
lot
more
desktop
review
in
a
quicker
fashion
than
you
know.
C
Our
typical
we
still
need
to
walk.
The
blocks
like
use
is
traditional,
but
as
we
get
better
technologies
with
a
camera
system
and
some
of
these
other
projects
and
and
task
forces
that
have
been
out,
there
will
really
help
our
evaluators
process.
Information.
A
lot
quicker
and
therefore,
when
we
get
to
the
point
where
we're
trying
to
you
know
with
the
new
system
put
out
regular
assessments
on
an
annual
basis,
it'll
be
a
lot
more
efficient,
I.
Think
with
technology
such
as
that
yeah.
D
We're
interested
in
figuring
out
the
different
utilizations.
We
could
only
sell
it
to
the
vacant
property
folks,
but
I
think
that,
having
that
annual
assessment
of
our
data
set,
it
could
be
hugely
important
in
different
applications,
and
this
is
again
the
frustration
of
how
we're
going
to
do
this.
How
are
you
get
to
camera
and
then
how
do
we
manage
camera
moving
forward
so
that
we
have
more
real
time?
Information
is
hugely
important.
B
B
That's
one
of
the
most
time-consuming
things
so
without
getting
too
much
beyond
what
we
sent
you
there,
there's
something
that
we
call
phase.
One
of
you
know
implementation
and
but
there's
also
what
we
call
phase
zero
that
that
really
speaks
to
what
we
have
to
do
before.
We
actually
have
the
software
we're
actually
looking
to
push
the
vendor,
because
we
do
have
our
timeline
that
we're
looking
to
stick
to,
because
of
our
commitment
to
do
a
comprehensive
reassessments.
B
D
You
again
I
think
the
timeline
and
I
said
this.
This
is
not
your
responsibility,
but
it's
ours.
You
know
three
years
from
now
the
year
before
our
election,
people
are
gonna,
get
sticker
shock
again
and,
having
been
here
during
the
con,
the
controversial
conversion
to
a
VI
and
really
trying
to
get
folks
there
I,
don't
know
how
we
explain
that
to
folks,
because
you're
gonna
send
out
those
notices
right
before
our
primaries
and
people
are
gonna,
be
like
wait
a
minute.
D
E
B
Camera
a
camera
program,
it's
not
just
something
that
will
take
three
or
four
of
our
current
systems
and
combine
them
into
one.
It's
going
to
essentially
be
the
system
of
record
that
will
address
valuations,
appeals
and
exemptions,
revisions
that
translate
into
recertifications
that
get
to
the
Revenue
Department
and
that's
in
response
to
what
you
just
asked
it
just
is
what
a
customized
off-the-shelf
canvas
system
does,
at
the
very
least
we're
asking
for
some
additional
things,
but
that's
how
it
addresses
that.
E
C
So,
in
terms
of
when
we
could
give
a
demonstration,
we
are
in
active
negotiations
right
now,
I
would
say
once
that
contract
is
signed
and
executed.
We
would
be
happy
to
set
up
a
time
where
the
vendor
comes
in
and
gives
a
demonstration
and
shows
everybody
exactly
what
we
are.
What
we're
implementing
what
you
can
expect
to
see
when
our
project
is
complete.
E
And
who
knows
what
may
happen
if
a
market
during
downtown
occurs,
we
do
have
a
general
election
in
the
fall.
Heaven
forbid
of
a
certain
person
is
a
1600
Pennsylvania
Avenue,
but
the
more
recent
more
critical
issue
that
we
could
have
a
downturn
in
markets
and
also
real
estate,
and
we
lose
some
of
the
ability
of
camping.
Some
of
that
revenue.
F
F
Known
as
swamp
poodle,
most
people
up
there
don't
know
that
that's
the
name
of
their
community,
but
that's
what
they
have
on
a
map.
Sure
GMA's.
Yes,
so
and
I.
Ask
you
this
question
must
want
to
record
so
the
particularly
GMA
that
caused
the
concerns
that
we
expressed
to
you
about
the
values
on
properties
on
the
northern
end
of
the
GMA
versus
the
southern
end,
which
is
down
throughout
Avenue
they
versus
Germantown.
The
and
you've
witnessed
yourself
on
your
trip
up
to
that
meeting.
It
is.
F
So
this
issue
about
GMA's.
Well,
what
is
there
going
to
be
the
potential
revisit
of
that
issue,
as
relates
to
GMA's
on
the
geographical
perspective,
when
term
of
town,
Lehigh
and
Councilwoman
Fiona
Sanchez
has
a
real
clear
sense
of
that,
because
she
actually
represents
it
that
portion
that
actually
represented
the
other
side
of
the
street
for
a
number
of
years
as
a
relates
to
for
Finn
Jiraiya,
which
is
the
border
of
Northern
Liberties?
F
B
We
are
going
to
be
looking
at
the
G
mas
as
they
exist
now.
I
think
we
currently
have
about
over
600
and
that
changes
every
time
we
do
any
type
of
reassessment
project,
because
the
GMA
boundaries
change.
We
looked
when
we
looked
at
that
specific
issue
that
you
asked
about.
We
actually
looked
at
an
entire
zone
and
we
looked
at
the
GMA
that
the
property
was
in
and
we
looked
at
a
base
year
made
it
had
a
lot
more
sales
and
then
we
trended
those
sales
to
come
up
with
an
estimate
of
value.
F
B
B
B
B
We
say
we're
looking
into,
in
other
words,
with
the
GMA's
themselves
we
may
be
looking
to.
It
may
be
a
matter
of
we
need
to
have
fewer
in
some
areas
and
and
more
in
some,
but
it's
I
think
it's
the
zone
problem
where
the
zone
covers
say,
for
instance,
I
think
that
was
zone
G.
That
covers
a
good
section
of
North
Philadelphia
and
it
includes
12th
and
Jerrod
to
off
the
Lehigh,
which
we
know
and
you've
made
the
point
and
you're
right.