$145.3M in taxes collected during M&CC amnesty – Mayor

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine has announced that the City Council has collected in excess of $145 million during the amnesty that was created for errant taxpayers to pay outstanding dues.

During a press briefing this week, Narine said $145,369,996 was paid between December 7, 2021 and March 31, 2022. The committee handling the amnesty operations is yet to submit reports of monies collected in the subsequent months.
According to him, a system is now in place that allows for accountability and transparency in the case of amnesties. This model can be used for future Councils.
“The amnesty had helped us and helped many people out there. I’m looking to put forward a permanent policy and that will be for Councils after us to follow. A precedent will be there to guide future councils. The way the amnesty was done before was not right or good for accountability,” the Mayor outlined.
He added, “The way we put it now in the form: going to a committee, the investigation has to be launched and all these things, records will be there.”
Before the amnesty was launched, the Council had outlined that staffers were under the guidance of clear instructions when responding and handling amnesty cases in ensuring transparency. Any person, corporation, trust or other stakeholder that is required to pay their rates in the city was required to apply for such.
An applicant was required to submit along with the application form, certified application of transport, title, lease, or letter of administration; a printout of arrears statement; copy of official form of identification; and an updated rate evaluation as may be required among other documents.
A Special Circumstances Committee was created to decide the exemption rate. The Council also offered payment plans should the subject be unable to pay the arrears due in full. No person was given 100 per cent exemption.
The intention was focused on improving revenue collection for the city. In recent years, billions have been owed by taxpayers and commercial businesses to the Council. The last figure of rates owed stood at an enormous $9 billion. (G10)