The Jamaica Star :: News :: MORE TAXES BEING PAID

A man prepares to pay his property tax during a mobile campaign by the Portmore Municipal Council and the Spanish Town Revenue Department at the Portmore Mall recently. Portmore's tax compliance has reached a record 47.88 per cent for the 2006-2007 period. - Anthony Minott

The Portmore Municipal Council is reporting that more property owners in the Sunshine City are paying their property taxes as there was a record 47.88 per cent compliance for the 2006-2007 period, about nine per cent higher than the 2005-2006 period.

This report, given to THE PORTMORE STAR, showed the council receiving more tax dollars for its coffers.

Though figures for the 2007-2008 period that ended on March 31, 2008, are not available, initial reports predict another record collection. The Spanish Town Revenue Department reported that the Sunshine City's property tax collection for March alone this year, reached $5.3 million, with $1.6 million out of that total collected by the Portmore council.

Recently, the Portmore Municipal Council went on a mobile campaign, in collaboration with the Spanish Town Revenue Board, to improve property tax payments.

60 per cent compliance

The mobile campaign saw them making stops at Greater Portmore Shopping Centre, Cedar Grove, and the Portmore Mall. Claudia Martin, a tax enforcement officer at the council, said that the reason for the increase in property tax payments is her council's vigilance to the task at hand. "We send the residents reminders and notify them of the amount they owe, and encourage them to come in and make payments," she said.

She added that the drive was a success and similar initiatives will be used to collect other taxes in the municipality. Martin said that her department is targeting 60 per cent compliance for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

Property tax is used to finance property-related services in communities in Jamaica. Property taxes are used for the expansion and maintenance of street lighting, collection and disposal of garbage, repairs to fire stations, community infrastructure and civic improvement (e.g. beautification of parks and open spaces) and rehabilitation of parochial/farm roads (roads within the community).