Bolgatanga to improve property rate collection

The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Edward Ayagle, has said the assembly has put prudent and workable fiscal strategies in place to improve upon revenue mobilisation.

The measures include instituting legal action against property owners who are indebted to the assembly.

The MCE told Ghana News Agency (GNA)  in Bolgatanga that the assembly netted GH¢200,000 from property rates in the municipality in 2013, which was far below the target of GH¢300,000. He attributed the inability of the assembly to meet its revenue target to the refusal of some property owners to pay property rates.

Mr Ayagle also said the assembly used sensitisation and public education as strategies to improve the revenue and added that the assembly would update its records on properties in the municipality.

Mr Mustapha Adam, the Budget Officer of the assembly, said his office had challenges such as the non-demarcation of properties due to the increasing number of estates and commercial facility. He also indicated that the first valuation by the assembly was conducted in 1997 and updated in 2010, making it to generate low income on property rates.

He said the assembly’s target for this year was GH¢360,000. — GNA