New Amsterdam Town Council rakes in 78% of revenue

The municipality of New Amsterdam has been able to collect 78 per cent of its budgeted taxes for the year 2018 which represents the highest percentage collected in recent times.
For the first time, the municipality has been able to surpass the $50 million mark with $54.3 million in property taxes collected. More significant is the $18 million in interest on outstanding arrears.

The Town’s Treasurer, Kerriann Edwards, related that emphasis was placed on visiting homes to get persons to pay their arrears during the course of last year.
However, she noted that on many occasions, they found that no one was occupying the property, and as such, the premises were taken over by thick vegetation. Many of these property owners are currently overseas.
The house visits was an initiative aimed at bringing in finances so as to help to return the town to its former state. However, the necessary cooperation from some residents leaves much to be desired, the Council added.
But residents have been accusing the municipality of not doing enough, after raising property tax by 100 per cent as from January 1, 2018.
The Council, in a desperate move to increase its revenue collection, will be publicising the names of those with significant arrears.
According to Officer in Charge of the Town Constabulary, Charles Roberts, the Council will be visiting those persons and having photos taken of their properties published.

“I implore upon you to visit the Treasurer’s Department urgently to avoid the inconvenience as it relates to those persons who would have been delinquent as it relates to paying their rates and taxes that is owed to the Council.”
The municipality is also taking strong action against persons who park their vehicles in streets blocking the entrances of private property. On that note, Roberts stated that the Council has been receiving numerous complaints and would be acting on those complaints.
Meanwhile, the municipality will be adapting a zero-tolerance attitude to illegal vending and littering in the town.
“Skid bins have been placed in strategic locations for domestic waste only yet commercial waste is being seen in those bins. We are appealing to those errant business persons to desist and to be warned, since a new initiative is in place.”
That initiative, Roberts explained, will see persons being placed before the courts.
The Council is encouraging persons to take pictures or video of persons found littering and will reward the photographer.
“You can use your phones and take photographs. Those persons ought to be visible in the photograph or a vehicle number visible so that we can police that aspect of it and have those persons arrested. They will be fined and fifty per cent of that fine will be given to the person [who] bring the photograph to the Council,” Roberts explained.
The fine for individuals found guilty of littering is $10,000, while businesses will have to pay $100,000.