The sum reported exceeds the Council’s collectable amount

Oct 08, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
The Mayor and City Council is expressing concern over reports, which appeared in certain sections of the media, on the amount of money owed to the municipality by ratepayers.
Last Friday evening (03-10-08), the Acting City Treasurer, Mr. Andrew Meredith, in response to the Commission of Inquiry, gave the totality of the Council’s financial potential, that is, what appears in the computer print out for all land and properties in the Council. As a result, the statement understandably generated much excitement.
Taken by itself, particularly in the context suggested by some media operatives, it gives the impression that the Council has been delinquent in collecting its rates for city properties.
The figure of $9 billion referred to all land and buildings valued over a 15 year period. In other words, the Acting Treasurer reported a technical summation of all lands and properties in Georgetown. This sum does not represent what is collectable in the existing legal and historical circumstances.
It should be noted that these lands and buildings include: public open spaces, churches, non governmental organisations exempted from taxes, embassies and other diplomatic missions. The municipality has never collected taxes from these agencies because of certain international agreements, but they still appear on the data of our computer.
Citizens should know that, for some time now, Council has been attempting to do two things:-
1. Maximize its collections from delinquent tax-payers. However, the legal process is cumbersome. This continues to negatively affect efforts to recover outstanding sums. Because of this, some years ago, the Council asked for the establishment of a Municipal Court. However, this has not happened.
Further, the Council has been encouraging home-owners, who find it difficult to honour their civic obligation, to enter into a payment plan with the Council. This facility is still available to rate payers who may be experiencing genuine financial difficulties.
2. Examine the valuation process of properties in Georgetown. About two weeks ago, the Mayor wrote the Hon. Ministers of Local Government and Finance seeking their assistance to improve the valuation system. The letter pointed out to the Ministers that the Council has been making an effort in this area of its responsibility, but needed the intervention of the Ministers in the process to accelerate the process of accreditation of the persons, who are doing the evaluation of properties, in the City.
Royston King,
Public Relations Officer, M&CC

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