P2.3 million budget to fete top taxpayers ‘lavish,’ dad says

A P2.3-million budget proposed by the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) for a ceremony to award the city’s outstanding taxpayers was returned to the CTO for revision after a councilor found it “lavish.”

Councilor Noel Wenceslao, vice chairman of the budget and finance committee, said items should be dropped to reduce the budget (see table) so the city can use the money “for other projects… that will benefit the constituents.”

Wenceslao said the P23,000 for the host of the event on the night of July 15 can be reduced or erased if a City Hall employee is made emcee.

He said the city can also make use of the dancing tax collectors instead of hiring another dance troupe for P30,000.

The P70,000 budget for musical arrangement and the orchestra is unnecessary while the budget for lights and sounds, stage construction, scriptwriting, event direction and costumes for the usherettes should be further reduced, Wenceslao said.

The proposed amount will be taken from the City Sponsored Activities Annual Budget Appropriations.

This is the third year the city will recognize the city’s highest and most diligent taxpayers. The city will award 20 real property taxpayers, 20 business tax payers, four PEZA-registered business establishments, five fish vendors, five market vendors, 10 suppliers and 15 barangays with the highest collection of real property tax.

The awarding is aimed at encouraging taxpayers to be prompt in paying taxes.