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Local lawyers smell a profit in AVI
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Local lawyers smell a profit in AVI
Among those who may benefit from the citywide property tax reassessment process (known as the Actual Value Initiative or AVI) are people whose homes have declined in value, Center City commercial property owners who're seeing tax bills plummet — and, most likely, lawyers. The city expects the number of appeals to spike by 50 percent this year, but the number could be greater if everyone being egged on to appeal by AVI critics like Councilmen Mark Squilla and Jim Kenney does so. Adding fuel to the fire are lawyers who are urging those who feel they're overassessed to seek legal counsel, with blog posts, "legal alerts," and free online advice, such as "Should you appeal? We think so,"
One firm, Fineman Krekstein & Harris even took the step of leaving stacks of fliers in Center City condo buildings in recent weeks. Lawyer Gary Krimstock says the firm has received "dozens of calls every day" since the assessments were mailed out, and he expects "hundreds, if not more." He says that in previous years that saw extensive increases in assessments, such as in 2002 and 2006, the firm filed upwards of 3,300 appeals per year. He's not sure whether he'll be filing that many this year, or whether he'll be able to represent whole buildings in informal discussions with the Office of Property Assessment (OPA) as he has in the past.
Residents must submit first-level appeals with the OPA by March 31, or file for a formal appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes by Oct. 7. Lawyers aren't required for either appeal, but Krimstock says that self-represented clients tend to fare worse at the BRT, particularly because the city in the past few years has begun sending solicitors to argue cases, cross-examine witnesses and introduce evidence. "They've become more adversarial," he says of the hearings. "It's certainly a contested matter now in front of the board."
The number of appeals, he says, may depend on ultimately on how much people's taxes are rising, though — and that question hinges on the tax rate and homestead exemption set by City Council.
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