Over $127M in rates & taxes collected during M&CC amnesty period

The amnesty period (November 15 to December 2017) provided by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for defaulters to pay up their arrears in rates and taxes has seen the Council receiving over $127 million in arrears.
This was disclosed by City Treasurer John Douglas during a press conference held last Friday in the M&CC boardroom. However, Douglas noted that because the money was paid during the amnesty period, the sum of $335 million was waived.

Nevertheless, speaking on behalf of the Council, Douglas expressed a heartfelt thank you to all those rate-payers who had come into City Council and “honoured their obligation during the period of amnesty”.
The money received was owed to the council over a period of two decades. The non-receipt of the rates and taxes had hindered the works of the council for several years. These included sustaining current works in the City, including drainage; road repairs; cleaning and greening of parks, gardens and open spaces; garbage collection and disposal; and enforcement of compliance with the country’s by-laws and building codes, besides public health and environmental services in all local communities.
Prior to the period of amnesty, the M&CC had been owed more than $22 billion in outstanding property rates. The council is urging property owners to visit the M&CC office to pay their taxes, as this would assist in the development and sustainability of the city.