The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sivakasi achieves 100 per cent tax collection

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Thursday, Apr 02, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Sivakasi achieves 100 per cent tax collection

S. Sundar

Completes it first among other local bodies in the State

Council’s cooperation, support of bill collectors and taxpayers were reasons behind success
As assesses increased, property tax collection went up to Rs. 5.04 crore from Rs. 3.64 crore

SIVAKASI: Despite the quinquennial revision of property tax and a subsequent delay in commencing tax collection, Sivakasi Municipality has achieved 100 per cent collection of all taxes, including water tax, for the year 2008-09.

“This is the third successive year we have achieved this distinction. With some extra effort put in by our staff, this time we were able to complete it first among all the local bodies in the State,” Chairperson, K. Rathikadevi, said.

Completed 3 days ahead

Tax collection was completed on March 28, three days ahead of the end of the financial year. She attributed the success to a team effort – cooperation of the council; hard work of bill collectors and full support of taxpayers.

“Initially, there was some resistance among the councillors and tax payers on property tax revision.

However, we were able to convince them, pointing to the commitment given on tax reforms while getting grants under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,” Municipal Commissioner N.S. Prema said.

The local body was obliged to increase the tax collection to as much as 95 per cent. “We explained to the people that tax revision was inevitable to fulfil the infrastructure development of the town,” she said.

Tax revision

Vice-Chairman, A.M.S.G. Ashokan, himself met many industrialists to convince them on the tax revision.

Similarly, councillors took up the issue among the people in their respective wards, the Chairperson said.

The tax revision was done at the rate of a maximum of 20 per cent for residential buildings, 75 per cent for industrial and 100 per cent for commercial buildings.

During the period, the total number of property tax assessees went up to 26,197 from 26,103. As a result, property tax collection went up to Rs. 5.04 crore from Rs. 3.64 crore.

Two projects

Sivakasi town has got two projects under JNNRUM – slum development and road improvement – to the tune of Rs. 8.2 crore, Ms. Prema said.

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