Baguio pushes ‘win-win’ tax issues solution
>> Sunday, July 25, 2021
BAGUIO
CITY -- The city government’s local finance
committee crafted a proposed “win-win” solution on the issues raised by the
business sector on implementation of the revised schedule of market values on
real property taxes under ordinance 16, series of 2020.
City Assessor Maria Almaya Addawe, a member of the LFC, said the city government crafted the proposed measures to balance the city government’s need to collect taxes and heavy impact inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic to operation of businesses in the city.
Earlier, officials of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) and city officials led by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong met to thresh out possible solutions on the issues and concerns raised by the former on the implementation of the revised schedule of market values on real property taxes that took effect this year.
During the meeting, the city chief executive requested HRAB officers to come up with their counter proposal on how the city government can address tax issues and concerns.
Under the LFC proposal, no surcharges or penalties will be charged and instead of the 2-year implementation of the increase, the same will be spread in 3 years with 50 percent of the increase taking effect this year and 25 percent each will be effected next year and 2023.
Based on ordinance 16, series of 2020, the revised schedule of market values on real property taxes will take effect in two years with 70 percent of the increase to take effect this year and the balance of 30 percent to be effected next year.
But Addawe said the city government is still waiting for the HRAB position paper on revised schedule of market values although there will be another meeting between both parties to continue the ongoing dialogue on how to address issues on the matter.
In an earlier position paper, the HRAB called on the local government to provide reprieve in implementation of the revised real estate tax measure taxes as the approved increase is allegedly excessive, oppressive and confiscatory, especially in the light of the impact of the pandemic on the economy that caused almost all businesses to either significantly reduce their operations or close their establishments.
The city had not been implementing the required increase in the schedule of market values on real property taxes since 1996 despite the mandatory adjustments that should be made every 3 years causing the finance department to issue negative advisories against the local government on the said matter.
In case the city implements the above proposal, the city government incur a 22.5 million deficit on its annual budget on the second year and another P27.25 million deficit on the third year of implementation, thus, the need for the city to consider the non-implementation of certain projects that are not important to have a sustained balanced budget in the next two years.
City Assessor Maria Almaya Addawe, a member of the LFC, said the city government crafted the proposed measures to balance the city government’s need to collect taxes and heavy impact inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic to operation of businesses in the city.
Earlier, officials of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) and city officials led by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong met to thresh out possible solutions on the issues and concerns raised by the former on the implementation of the revised schedule of market values on real property taxes that took effect this year.
During the meeting, the city chief executive requested HRAB officers to come up with their counter proposal on how the city government can address tax issues and concerns.
Under the LFC proposal, no surcharges or penalties will be charged and instead of the 2-year implementation of the increase, the same will be spread in 3 years with 50 percent of the increase taking effect this year and 25 percent each will be effected next year and 2023.
Based on ordinance 16, series of 2020, the revised schedule of market values on real property taxes will take effect in two years with 70 percent of the increase to take effect this year and the balance of 30 percent to be effected next year.
But Addawe said the city government is still waiting for the HRAB position paper on revised schedule of market values although there will be another meeting between both parties to continue the ongoing dialogue on how to address issues on the matter.
In an earlier position paper, the HRAB called on the local government to provide reprieve in implementation of the revised real estate tax measure taxes as the approved increase is allegedly excessive, oppressive and confiscatory, especially in the light of the impact of the pandemic on the economy that caused almost all businesses to either significantly reduce their operations or close their establishments.
The city had not been implementing the required increase in the schedule of market values on real property taxes since 1996 despite the mandatory adjustments that should be made every 3 years causing the finance department to issue negative advisories against the local government on the said matter.
In case the city implements the above proposal, the city government incur a 22.5 million deficit on its annual budget on the second year and another P27.25 million deficit on the third year of implementation, thus, the need for the city to consider the non-implementation of certain projects that are not important to have a sustained balanced budget in the next two years.
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