Municipal amnesty ends but some property owners still benefiting

Dec 07, 2009 News

Although the amnesty offered by City Hall has long come to an end, property owners who had signalled their intention to take advantage of the scheme are still being allowed to complete process.
Public Relations Officer, Royston King, said that while some property owners had heeded the call, they were required to produce certain documentations that were not readily available. Some persons, he said, had to even visit the Valuation Office before returning to the municipality.
King noted that the continuance of the amnesty at a limited level was being considered at the level of Council but was eventually ruled out. “Those who started can get to finish but other property owners cannot come now and benefit,” King asserted.
Many city residents and business owners responded to the amnesty, allowing the municipality to recover much needed revenue.
King said that City Hall is grateful to all those who came forward and honoured their obligation. However, defaulting property owners may soon find themselves before the courts if they do not pay up.
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams had said that the notion behind the continuance of the amnesty was rooted in the municipality’s need to ensure that its coffers have sufficient funds to pay workers’ salaries, garbage contractors and its utilities until the end of the year.
He disclosed, too, that the municipality has been in discussion with major businesses and defaulting political parties. According to Williams, although the political parties have not fulfilled their commitment to pay, the municipality has been able to make some agreements with them.
The amnesty move was aimed at encouraging defaulting property owners to fulfil their civic responsibility of paying their property taxes even as they were relieved of accumulated interest over the years.
Had the process been continued, Williams had speculated that even more property owners would have come forward significantly boosting the municipal revenue base. “Those who didn’t get a chance to get in on the amnesty in September because it was a short period, were given another chance. We plan on taking people to court like Wild West.”
The Amnesty offer commenced in September but officially concluded at the end of October in order to encourage defaulting property owners to fulfil their civic responsibility of paying their property taxes.
By introducing the initiative, taxpayers have been relieved of accumulated interest. Since its inception King had advised that the move was a temporary means through which the municipality could solicit much needed finances.
He divulged to this newspaper yesterday that the measure was put in place in recognition of the fact that several residents are not financially able to meet their obligation to pay, which is amplified by the accumulated interest.
Up to the end of September, the municipality was able to collect a total of $161M, an amount that increased in October by more than $81M, Williams said.
Even before the introduction of the amnesty programme, the municipality had commenced serving demand notices to some residents in order to make them aware of their default status, thus had urged them to visit the Treasury Department to make their payments.
Even then, according to the acting Town Clerk, Yonette Pluck-Cort, the municipality was willing to work out agreements with residents who were in arrears and were unable to make payments.
Residents have over the years been advised that they could make yearly payments or are afforded the options to make payments on a quarterly basis and not be in default.
The collection of property taxes, represents about 80 percent of the municipal revenue base which is in fact below the requisite amount needed to manage the municipality optimally.

Latest News

Municipal amnesty ends but some property owners still benefiting

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Green Machine returns to RAN Sevens

GASA snubs Delroy Tyrrell for World Championships

Cricket Australia appoints former West Indian...

GBA appoints International Technical Officer...

Warriors triumph but Royals lead standings

D-Up Basketball Academy Training camp brings...

Features/Columnists

A false panacea for electoral integrity

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

President Ali’s tough love

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Municipal amnesty ends but some property owners still benefiting

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]