No. 020 · · Money
$35 million in uncollected tax revenue; “Give our sheriff a huge round of applause”
Tax sheriff sales — auctions of tax-delinquent properties, one of the office’s three core functions — had been paused for roughly three years following the Bid4Assets contract dispute. In her March 2024 budget address, Mayor Cherelle Parker put the cost of the pause at an estimated $35 million in tax revenue for the city and school district. In the same address, she asked City Council to give the sheriff “a huge round of applause.”
The auctions resumed in July 2024, after the Parker administration reached an agreement with Bilal to sign a new contract with Bid4Assets — this time with the Law Department’s approval. The first auction in more than three years sold 29 properties.
- Revenue not collected Estimated $35 million — Tax revenue the Parker administration attributed to the pause in tax sheriff sales
The estimate
In her March 2024 budget address, Mayor Cherelle Parker estimated that the ongoing pause on tax sheriff sales had cost the city and school district $35 million in tax revenue.
The Philadelphia InquirerThe same address
“Give our sheriff a huge round of applause.” — Mayor Parker, March 2024 budget address
The Philadelphia InquirerSources
- Ryan W. Briggs and William Bender. “Three years later, the Sheriff's Office resumes auctions for 1,000-plus tax-delinquent properties.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, .
- William Bender and Ryan W. Briggs. “After six years of chaos in Philly Sheriff's Office, Rochelle Bilal must answer to judges.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, .
- “Mayor Parker says sheriff will soon resume auctions of tax-delinquent properties.” Suburban Realtors Alliance, .