Operation to collect outstanding property taxes
November 3, 2024 9:56 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Doddy Morris.
The SHEFA Provincial Government Council (SPGC) will begin an operation to collect outstanding property taxes from its eight Area Councils on Monday next week.
‘Operation Yumi Talem Yumi Mekem’ will include Area Councils such as Ifira, Pango, Erakor, Eratap, Mele, Tanfasoko, and parts of Northwest Efate.
Secretary General (SG) Lionel Nasome Kaluat, said that they will engage Area Administrators, who are the main leaders in the selected areas, with assistance from Area Secretaries and volunteers, including members of the Community Disaster and Climate Change Committee (CDCCC), whom are utiliz3ed during disaster times.
“Our goal is to collect as much revenue as possible, especially the outstanding property taxes, which contribute to the revenue of SHEFA Province. This operation is coordinated by the Property Unit within SPGC,” he said.
Kaluat explained that the outstanding taxes have accumulated due to a shortage of staff and insufficient compliance efforts, which hinder timely revenue collection.
“When I became the SG, I recognized the outstanding revenue issue, necessitating this operation to collect dues that have been outstanding since 2019. It is essential for SHEFA Province, as a government entity, to collect revenue to provide services to taxpayers, which includes physical planning, business building permits, and other infrastructure needs,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that there may be concerns raised by property owners regarding road maintenance and waste collection.
“I want to clarify that road issues are not a priority for SHEFA Province. Maintaining existing roads is the responsibility of the government through Public Works. They are tasked with assessing new and existing roads, and we can partner with SHEFA PWD to assist with road maintenance for the properties involved,” Kaluat clarified.
Regarding waste management, he said that SPGC, through their contractors, is responsible for waste collection.
“This duty falls under the Property Unit and Waste Management Unit, which oversee the contractors to ensure they fulfil their responsibilities. If there are reports of waste being left on the ground for extended periods, residents are encouraged to raise those concerns so we can address them,” he added.
The SG said that at the end of this operation, they aim to gather as much information as possible to develop a long-term plan for strengthening compliance with property tax regulations.
“I hope to identify areas where individuals are operating without proper licenses, including vendors selling food, kava, or alcohol, as well as those constructing homes without following appropriate procedures.
This operation will not only focus on collecting revenue but also advising individuals on the importance of approaching the Province Office for guidance on conducting their activities in compliance with the law,” he said.
The operation was launched yesterday at the SHEFA Provincial headquarters.
