No tax increase seen for P10-B city budget

A P10-billion budget for Cebu City next year can be achieved without raising taxes, an official said.

In yesterday’s press conference, City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said they will consider revalidating real properties and tax mapping to improve revenues along with the sale of P143-million worth of properties seized from delinquent owners.

“There are many buildings being constructed this year that can be a source of tax collectibles,” she said.

Oliva said her office collected P2.5 billion of the P4.5-billion target for 2011.

A big part of the P10-billion budget will be spent for drainage projects, urban poor housing and improvements on Cebu City’s downtown area.

“Dancing and laughing tax collectors will be encouraged,” she said, referring to their novel strategies to encourage citizens to pay taxes promptly.

Oliva said she will present to the City Council next week a detailed plan for tax mapping and tax revalidation.

Tax mapping will allow the city to identify properties to be taxed while revalidation will focus on counterchecking the actual use of these properties.

When a property declared as residential is converted into commercial use, for example, the tax basis and dues have to be adjusted.

Different rates will apply.

She said the CTO will review the books of account of different businesses to determine if they are paying the exact taxes due them.

The office will also computerize their records especially in the disbursement of funds.

Oliva said the bulk of Cebu City’s revenue is from business, community and amusement taxes amounting to P1.15 billion.

“Business taxes remains the most stable source of the city’s income,” she said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Edison delos Angeles