More extensive properties will bear a heavier tax burden.
THE OUTCOME of today's general election will determine whether the present provisional property tax regime remains in force.
To fund his ambitious local government reform programme, Minister Arnold Bertram in February, proposed a cess on electricity bills. Massive public opposition to the new tax caused a withdrawal of that project. In March, Minister Bertram told parliament that property taxes were being adjusted, effective April 1, to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of the cess. Met with protests over the massive increases in the property tax, the Minister revised the tax rates downwards in May. Wednesday Business now examines the positions of Minister Bertram and Opposition spokesman on local government Andrew Holness, who says a Jamaica Labour Party government would revise the tax. We also look at the background and implications of the change.
