Parish Councils now responsible for property tax expenditure

[Lazie]

The island's parish councils now have responsibility for the expenditure of property tax receipts to provide basic services.

This is in keeping with a commitment given by the Bruce Golding administration that the next phase of the local government reform process would take place on January one.

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Responsible for Local Government, Bobby Montaque, says property tax collections normally sent to the ministry will instead be remitted to the councils.

He says the Councils will be using the funds to provide street lighting, paying for solid waste collection and paying for public water, which is water used at stand pipes.

However, Mr. Montaque added that where councils have shortfalls applications will be made to the Finance Ministry for deficit financing for a two year period to allow councils to adjust.

He says the government is moving to ensure that Councillors and other workers are prepared for their new responsibilities by having a training session by the end of January.

Mr. Montaque added that a similar training session will be held for the Mayors as well as the Chairmen of Standing Committees.

He says these sessions will brief them as to the law and regulations of their new responsibility.

[Jawge]

Good move but I see some
parishes becoming "welfare parsihes" (taxes alone won't help them hence they will need aid from the central govt.)

[Lazie]

Good move but I see some
parishes becoming "welfare parsihes" (taxes alone won't help them hence they will need aid from the central govt.)

"However, Mr. Montaque added that where councils have shortfalls applications will be made to the Finance Ministry for deficit financing for a two year period to allow councils to adjust."

With the proposed 2.5% of the budget being equally distributed to each constituency, some of that money could help out. Personally, I think that the 2.5% is too much at this point reduce it to 1%.

[Hortical]

Wid so much $$ a come in, wonder if dem ago have appropriate financial controls in place. The workshops on law is a step in the right direction.

[Jawge]

Maybe for places like St. James, St. Ann and Westmoreland.

I know Mobay can generate enough revenue to sustain St.James ( a lot of things are in Mobay to do this; take the potentially huge cash cow cornwall regional for example)

Other parishes will need that 2.5% badly. If Trelawny pulls off the Harmony cove (which I doubt; a hard sell given our current social ills) then
Trelawny would end up being the star parish of the island.