PHILADELPHIA – 9/26/2013 City Councilman Brian O’Neill has introduced legislation, co-sponsored by Councilman Mark Squilla and Councilwoman Marian Tasco, which will reduce the fee paid by owner-occupied duplex owners from $300.00 to $150.00. “If someone owns a single-family home, they don’t pay for trash removal”, O’Neill said. “Why should the city charge people who live in one of the units of their duplex the same $300.00 fee that people who own duplexes and rent out both units as an investment are paying?” O’Neill added. This bill will allow people who live in the duplexes that they own to be treated as regular homeowners, eligible to be exempted from half of the fee. This is similar to how the city treated owner-occupied duplexes for purposes of the Homestead Exemption program.
If you own and live in your duplex, you will be eligible for a 50% reduction in your trash fee if this bill becomes law. Constituents in favor of this legislation are encouraged to attend the Finance Committee hearing and testify in support of the bill. To sign up to testify or for more information, please contact one of Councilman O’Neill’s three offices, including his new full time neighborhood office at the FOP “Heroes Hall” headquarters building at 11630 Caroline Road (215-437-9167). This is in addition to his neighborhood office at Bustleton & Bowler above the 7th Police District (215-685-0432) and City Hall office (215-686-3422).
