As of September 30, the Ba Town Council is owed a sum of $1.362million in town rates arrears.

The revelation was made by Ba Town Council chief executive officer Priya Singh during her submission to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs on the Ba Town Council Annual Report (2019).

Ms Singh said rate collection for the financial year 2022-2023, sat at 55 per cent as of September 30.

“Arrears we have collected 0.03 per cent. Total rates as owed to the council as of September 30, 2022 is $1.362million,” she said.

“Residential ratepayers account for 79 per cent of ratepayers and business/commercial was at 21 per cent.

“Total number of ratepayers is 1666 and out of that 760 has paid and 906 ratepayers are yet to pay their current rates.”

Rate Collection Strategies

Ms Singh said the town council had also implemented strategies that could assist in the timely payment of rates.

“The town council has offered a 7 per cent discount on current rates cleared in the months of August and September 2022,” she said.

“Ratepayers have been given options to make arrangements to pay their rates in installments on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis.

“We have liaised with ratepayers and their employers to have direct deduction at source with employers and employee permission.”

She said an M-PAiSA account has been set up by the town council for ease of payment.

Rates officers make constant visits to make arrangements to clear their rates and cases are being referred to the small claims tribunal for those who have not paid their arrears.

Ratepayers who have more than $10,000 outstanding rates are referred for legal action.

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