Sports commission pays City Hall $30M for outstanding rates and taxes

In a bid to settle their outstanding debt for rates and taxes, the National Sports Commission (NSC) paid the Georgetown City Council $30 million yesterday.

Speaking to the media, the National Sports Commission Director of Sports, Christopher Jones said, “In keeping with the government’s decision that all government agencies and ministries must pay their rates and taxes, the National Sports Commission would’ve initiated the conversation with the Georgetown City Council as of last year, to ascertain exactly what are the rates and taxes owed by the National Sports Commission, and all of the facilities that comes under our remit.”

He explained that the Commission would’ve learnt from the discussion that NSC had never paid any rates and taxes. However, through negotiations they were able to work out a reduced figure with the City Council.

“So for the National Gymnasium, the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the Secretariat of the National Sports Commission and the National Research Center, we have a cheque here that we are handing over to the City Council to the tune of $30 million, which would’ve covered our rates and taxes that we would’ve owed for last year,” Jones stated.

Jones also explained that the NSC would’ve added the payment for the rates and taxes for all their buildings into the 2018 Budget, to be paid next year.

Ron McCalmon, the City’s Treasurer said the city was happy with the payment and is encouraging all the other ministries to follow suit. “We would’ve sent out notices to all the government agencies, and we have received some feedback, and we are encouraging others to come in and pay their taxes so that we can provide the necessary services to the citizens of Georgetown,” he noted.

He also explained that years ago the Ministry of Finance used to pay for all the ministries, however, the new administration has since given the directive that each ministry must pay their own taxes as of the beginning of 2016.

While the Commission and the other buildings had not paid their rates and taxes since coming into existence, the City Council and the Commission were able to work out the rate that would’ve covered the outstanding years.

“We would’ve worked something out as it relates to a reduction in the taxes and such, and this would be credited to the various accounts that falls under the National Sports Commission, and from 2018, I trust that the taxes for this entity will be paid at the beginning of the year,” he added.

The City Treasurer also related that there is still an outstanding debt of $3.3 billion in rates and taxes, the majority of which is owed by the corporate community.