$7.47 Billion Collected in Property Taxes for 2014/15

A total of $7.47 billion was collected in property taxes for the period 2014/15 representing a compliance rate of 54 per cent.

This figure is $1.64 billion more than the $5.83 billion collected for 2013/14, where the compliance rate was 51 per cent.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 2.

The Minister was responding to questions posed by Opposition Spokesperson for Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, on a number of issues regarding local governance.

Mr. Arscott informed that for the periods 2011/12 and 2012/13, some $2.51 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively, were collected for property taxes, at a compliance rate of 50 per cent.

He noted that 90 per cent of property tax collections are allocated to the Parish Councils for street lighting, public cleansing, public water, promotional and administrative expenses.

The remaining 10 per cent goes into the Equalisation Fund for infrastructure work in the various Parish Council divisions.

Meanwhile, Mr. Arscott informed that as at May 21, $1.7 billion had been paid to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) for street lighting.

He said an audit undertaken by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) indicates that there are 105,440 street lights across the island and approximately 12 per cent of these are malfunctioning.