Jamaica
News - Real Estate - Services (July
27,
2004)
Portmore mayor says collectorate would increase tax collection
The mayor of Portmore George Lee,
and finance minister Dr Omar Davies were engaged in a brief
tit-for-tat at the launch of RBTT Portmore branch Thursday-over
whether building a tax collectorate in Portmore would increase
property tax compliance.
Lee argued that a collectorate
would increase compliance as citizens found it tedious to go into
neighbouring cities to pay.
Davies on the other hand said the
compliance must first increase before any commitment to build a
collectorate so as to demonstrate that such an investment would be
economical.
"Some time ago minister you
turned down my request for a tax office in Portmore...But a tax
office is the best way to do that, because a lot of people tell me
that they will not go to Spanish Town or Kingston to pay,"
said Lee. "I am hopeful that you will change your mind."
Lee estimates that $100 million can
be collected each year from the 37,000 homes and businesses in
Portmore.
However, only 50 per cent is
collected. In addition, some $250 million is now outstanding.
"By year end we will get 50
per cent of $100 million," Lee said while addressing RBTT
managers and corporate customers. It is important because it goes
into paying solid waste, streetlights, parks and other
things."
Lee then apologised to RBTT for
injecting the municipality's business in the ceremony, and
returned to his congratulatory remarks.
Davies later in his address
responded: "You and I had discussions about it. And you and I
have a vested interests in increasing the flow of property tax. I
will make a challenge to you. When you move closer to the $100
million mark then..the building will be justified."
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