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City Hall ends amnesty to delinquent ratepayers

Nov 15, 2011 News

 

The period of amnesty that the Mayor and City Council extended to delinquent rate-payers has ended. City Hall is now warning that businesses are now expected to pay up their rates as prescribed by law.
“Those homeowners, who did not take advantage of that facility (the amnesty), missed a great opportunity to settle their accounts, in full, at City Hall,” a release from the Council’s Public Relations Department said.
“The objective of the amnesty was to provide an opportunity for property-owners to honour their civic obligation to the city and simultaneously allow the municipality to recover outstanding amounts.”
According to the statement, at the close of collection on October 12, 2011, the council had collected over $180M in outstanding sums while it waived interest on demand in the sum of about $160 million.
“Regrettably, many businesses are still in arrears. This is very unfortunate because the council reached out to all ratepayers, with full knowledge and willingness to forego much needed revenue, to ensure that all accounts were settled and that it could begin on a new slate with defaulters.
“Looking specifically at corporations and businesses, the council believes that paying tax into its treasury is clearly part of how business contributes to society. Viewed from another perspective, companies affect the city in three dimensions–social, environmental and economic.
“Paying property rates is clearly part of the economic dimension, and how companies contribute to the creation of prosperity and to stability with in the capital.
“Rates provide essential municipal revenues for the city authority to meet economic, environmental and social objectives. Other aspects of the economic dimension include creating jobs and employment, residents of local communities and generating business for suppliers. Moreover, there is great value for this in corporate reputation particularly for those companies with international connections.
“Council had hoped to collect $1B in outstanding rates. However, much to its disappointment, council was unable to achieve that target.”
The release stated that council is in the process of distributing delinquent letters to defaulters. Thirty-six different local communities have already received such letters. The letter gives defaulters two weeks to settle their accounts. The council is inviting those, who are experiencing difficulties to pay up their rates to sign- on to a special payment plan.

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