The Town Clerk of Georgetown, Royston King in addressing the Council at its Statutory meeting on Monday said he has approached Central Government on several issues affecting the municipality including valuation of properties in the city, a release from City Hall said yesterday.
He noted that the Council is unable to gather more rates and taxes since the last valuation of properties was done in 1996. The process of re-valuation of properties had commenced some years ago but has been stymied. However, continuous assessments are done on some properties as they are built, the release said.
According to the Valuation Act the properties should be evaluated every five years. The release said that the Council is losing much needed revenue, since new structures are being erected in the City and assessments are not being done. Further, some of the residential buildings have been converted to commercial usage, and are still paying the residential rate.
The release said that the City Council is a service oriented organisation and the lack of finances has severely inhibited its work programme. The Municipality, it added, has not been able to efficiently deliver critical municipal services in several areas; including road repairs and the provision of street lights.
General rates and taxes is the main source of revenue for the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. Moreover, the Council is mandated by law to levy rates.
The release referred to the following sections of the Municipal and District Council Act 28:01
Part 1V 201 states: Every Council shall be the rating authority for and shall have power to make and levy rates within, each rating area in its council area.
Part 1V 213 states: The rates due in respect of a general rate shall be payable in four instalments which shall become due on the first day of February or on the last day of service of the demand note, whichever day is later, the first day April, the first day of July and the first day October.
