A surveyor has been hired to value city properties as the city council recommences a bid to improve its data.
The chartered valuation surveyor Hugo Curtis would work in collaboration with the city engineer’s department to complete the exercise.

The release said that the valuation exercise will help “to clean” the council’s data and provide accurate information on all buildings in the city.

The exercise has been implemented because some properties have been “escaping the tax net.” While buildings were registered as residential when the plans were approved their status has changed over the years and they are now being used as commercial or part commercial and part residential. The valuation will help the municipality to place all buildings under their specific headings and thereby acquire much needed funds for the council.

The release further stated that the mayor and city council are empowered under the Municipality and District Council Act 28:01 article 202 to carry out this act.

It added that in light of inflation an increase in income is necessary and the municipality needs extra funds to deliver the “quality of services that citizens anticipate.”
It noted that the municipality has not increased rates since 1996.