Resource Center

Stories

The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast.

These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need.

Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:



Search results for "Board of Revision of Taxes" ...

  • Tax Travesty

    Philadelphia property taxes levies were plagued with inequalities aimed at gaining favor of residents with political clout. Overall, the investigation uncovers how the mission of the Board of Revision of Taxes, which is to accurately assess property values, failed because of consistent practice of undervaluing the homes of wealthy residents.

    Tags: Philadelphia; homes; property taxes; assessment; Democratic Party; political; wealthy; property owners;

    By Joe Tanfani; Mark Fazlollah; Dylan Purcell;

    Philadelphia Inquirer

    2009

  • Tax Travesty

    The story looks at how attempts to abolition Philadelphia's corrupt property tax agency, the Board of Revision of Taxes, was stymied by connected insiders and political connections.

    Tags: property taxes; Philadelphia, Pa.; Board of Revision of Taxes; corruption; assessment;

    By Mark Fazlollah; Joseph Tanfani; Dylan Purcell

    Philadelphia Inquirer

    2009

  • Moonlighting City Workers

    Fox news in Philadelphia reports as two employees of the Philadephia Board of Revision of Taxes were found to have been "working private jobs while on city time." One of the workers was a licensed funeral director, caught "attending funerals and meeting grieving families in the middle of his city work day." The other "was caught on tape working in his bar and shopping for beer and supplies" while on the city of Philadelphia's clock. Their timesheets indicated they had each claimed the time out at other jobs as time spent working for the city. In the end, the funeral director resigned, and the bar owner was fired by the city.

    Tags: Employment; moonlighting; falsified timecards; undercover surveillance

    By Jeff Cole; Gary Scurka; Mark LaValla; John Campbell

    WTXF-TV (Philadelphia)

    2006