Mangalore: Brace up for property tax hike from April 1

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 12: In all probability, the residents of the city will have to bear an additional property tax of not less than 15 percent per year with effect from April 1 this year.

It may be recalled that both the BJP and Congress parties had promised to the voters during the previous election that self assessment property tax scheme would not be implemented in the city. However, the BJP which got elected then, took shelter under the reason that the then administrator of the city corporation, the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, had implemented the scheme.

In the recent election, Congress had repeatedly assured the people that it would not hike the property tax. However, as per section 109 of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976, property tax has to be revised by an addition of not less than 15 percent once in three years. This hike can be as high as 30 percent, as per this provision.

Although the hike needs to be approved by the city corporation, the local city council is non-functional at present as the election for the post of mayor is still pending. As such, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, who also happens to be the administrator of the city corporation at present, has the power to bring the hike into effect. If he gives his nod, which is likely, property tax on dwelling units, commercial units, non-agricultural vacant lands etc will go up by not less than 15 percent from April 1 this year. If minimum hike is approved, the city corporation may be able to collect 43.67 crore in the coming year.

District in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, has said that it would be in the interest of the people if a decision on the hike is taken at the meeting of the corporators rather than by officials.