$15m spent to prepare for property tax

File photo: Finance Minister Colm Imbert
File photo: Finance Minister Colm Imbert

FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert reported that more than $15 million has been spent on hiring field officers to conduct assessments on buildings and other assets as part of the implementation of property tax. He was speaking Thursday as the Standing Finance Committee examined the estimates of the Finance Ministry.

Oropouche West MP Davendranath Tancoo asked about $7 million for travelling and subsistence, an increase of $4 million. Imbert said this had to do with the intention to step up visits to properties for valuations for the collection of property tax.

Tancoo also asked about a line item for $17 million for contract employment. Imbert explained that in 2020 the ministry brought on a significant number of field officers and the process for the implementation of property tax. He also reported there were 333 contract positions for the implementation of the property tax.

Mayaro MP Rushton Paray asked if the number of officers was sufficient to complete the number of homes to trigger the property tax (50 per cent) and Imbert replied the ministry was utilising a variety of approaches including databases. He added if additional workers are required the ministry will approach Cabinet to get more staff.

Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein asked the percentage of homes that had been valuated but Imbert said he did not want to give a wrong figure at the time as properties are valuated every day.

DAILY RATED

PENSION PLAN

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh asked about a line item for $20,000 as the contribution to the daily-rated pension plan. Imbert explained the sum was a nominal figure to “keep the matter alive” and Government planned to finalise the matter in this financial year. He said submissions have been received and they are moving to finalise the plan including the cost and the contribution by the employer. He added that when there is an agreement with the National Union of Government and Federated Workers this figure will be supplemented.

Naparima MP Rodney Charles asked about the $44 million for overtime for customs officers, which was more than two thirds of $60 million for salaries and cost of living, and if this could not be decreased by increasing the number of employees and implementing a 24/7 shift system.

REVENUE

AUTHORITY

Imbert stressed the filling of posts was under the Service Commission, an independent body appointed by the President. He pointed out that about 50 per cent of key positions were vacant and the issue has “bedevilled” multiple administrations. He said the issue would only be solved with the establishment of the Revenue Authority which will be a statutory authority with the power to fill its own positions.

$75M FOR CARICOM FUND

Imbert said Government has been sued about 12 times on matters such as imposing taxation but has won every single case. On the $75 million increase to the Caricom Development Fund Imbert explained TT is a major contributor to Caricom, its agencies and its funds and when other territories reported they were struggling and were not up to date with their contributions they visited TT and asked to assist.

FLEXIBLE $500M ALLOCATION

Imbert said the $500 million allocation to boost agriculture was under the Finance Ministry and there were no line items to allow for maximum flexibility.

He said, for example, the Agriculture Ministry could come and request $50 million to repair access roads and the Finance Ministry would release the funding. When Hosein accused Government of having no concrete plan he pointed him to the PNM manifesto and the agriculture section in the Roadmap to Recovery document.

In the increase of the allocation to Caribbean Airlines from $40 million in 2019 to $77 million in 2020 and $64 million in 2021 Imbert explained normally CAL would have to shoulder a very large portion of the loss from operating the seabridge and Government was seeking to reduce that loss with a higher allocation.

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