M&CC introduces new measures to improve revenue collection

Oct 28, 2010 News

New measures will be introduced at the commencement of next year to help improve the revenue collection of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown.
The measures which come as part of the recommendations of the municipality’s Implementation Committee will entail the establishment of a database to monitor the operation of businesses within the confines of the city.
This disclosure was made by Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, during a press conference at City Hall yesterday. He revealed that the property on which businesses such as salons, barber shops, food and liquor restaurants, all of which require permission to operate, must first be cleared of property taxes.
“If you are renting a property from an individual property owner whose taxes are not up to date that tax will have to be paid up before you get the permission or a licence to operate.”
In addition, council will enforce stringent measures to ensure the payment of property taxes before any construction or expansion of any property in the city is undertaken, Williams added.
He explained that if an individual applies for permission to undertake any form of construction persons would first have to ensure that the payment of taxes for that property is honoured.
“This is the first time that this is going to happen…This measure has been taken where it concerns compliance before a property is sold but we are going to be more rigorous combing the official gazette and appearing before the courts on the procedure of properties and offer objections where and when necessary.”
Further, the municipality is seeking to prevent property from being changed over to another person’s name if the property taxes are not paid in full.
“These are a series of initiatives that we are taking to bring in much needed funds…” Williams asserted yesterday. Notwithstanding, action is being engaged to take a judicial approach to address the problem of non-payment.
Some 15 property owners are currently being targeted by the municipality and are likely to be placed before the courts, shortly.
And the judicial measure comes despite the fact that the municipality is offering an amnesty deal to defaulting property owners.
Council, at a recent statutory meeting had approved of the granting of amnesty to property owners, whereby persons who owe taxes and are prepared to honour their obligation in full, are given some relief in that they are not required to pay the accumulated interest.
This tactic, which has been utilised by the municipality in the past, comes as an incentive to encourage defaulters to come forward, according to Williams. “Council needs to raise as much funds as possible at this time, and going towards the end of the year we have to meet urgent expenses.
“By encouraging property owners to pay we are providing an opportunity to raise much needed funds to meet our expenses.”
And according to Williams among the expenses are the payment of wages and salaries and the payment of waste disposal contractors, in addition to other areas of expenditure. The amnesty offer, which commenced on October 15, is expected to conclude on November 30.
Approximately $18M has so far been collected by the municipality since the introduction of the amnesty offer, according to Acting City Treasurer, Andrew Meredith.
He revealed that the municipality has a monthly projection of $130M to meet the cost of core services and essentials on a monthly basis. And with the advent of amnesty, he said that it was expected that another $25M would have been recovered on a monthly basis.

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M&CC introduces new measures to improve revenue collection

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