15
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1994
RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994
THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 WAS GAZETTED TODAY
(FRIDAY).
THE BILL SEEKS TO TRANSFER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RATES BILLING AND COLLECTION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, AND TO ABOLISH
OF HALF-REFUND RATES FOR VACANT NON-DOMESTIC PROPERTIES.
IT ALSO PROPOSES A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RATING SYSTEM.
UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF RATEABLE VALUES AND THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES (AS THE COLLECTOR OF RATES) FOR THE BILLING AND COLLECTION OF RATES.
"THIS SEGREGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES RESULTS IN AN UNNECESSARY AND WASTEFUL DUPLICATION OF EFFORT. RATEPAYERS ARE ALSO OFTEN UNSURE AS
A TO WHICH DEPARTMENT THEY SHOULD CONTACT IN CASE OF ENQUIRIES, GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
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**THE TRANSFER OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RATES BILLING AND
FROM COLLECTION
THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING
то SERVICES
THE
COMMISSIONER
TO OF RATING AND VALUATION WILL ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER PROVIDE A ONE-STOP SERVICE FOR RATEPAYERS.
"IT WILL ALSO MAKE BETTER USE OF THE RESOURCES OF THE TREASURY AND THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.
"THE BILL ALSO REMOVES AN ANOMALY UNDER EXISTING LAW WHEREBY
OF OF RATES CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE IN RESPECT HALF-REFUNDS
VACANT NON-DOMESTIC PREMISES ALTHOUGH REFUNDS FOR VACANT DOMESTIC PREMISES CEASED IN 1974.
"VACANT LAND AND WHERE THE VACANCY RESULTS FROM A COURT ORDER
BE THE APPLICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO
ELIGIBLE
FOR FULL REFUND OF RATES.
UPON
ORDINANCE SO
"FOR THESE PROPERTIES, WE PROPOSE TO AMEND THE THAT RATEPAYERS CAN CLAIM REFUNDS FOR THE ENTIRE VACANT PERIOD, INSTEAD OF WHOLE CALENDAR MONTHS ONLY.
**WE
HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE A NUMBER AMENDMENTS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURES
FOR
OF RATES
TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT, SERVICE OF NOTICES AND RATING APPEALS.
"FOR INSTANCE, WE PROPOSE TO STANDARDISE THE EFFECTIVE WHICH NEWLY FROM
CONSTRUCTED PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT TYPE, PROPERTIES, NON-DOMESTIC PROPERTIES EXAMPLE, DOMESTIC OWNERSHIP SCHEME, BECOME LIABLE TO PAYMENT OF RATES.
AND
DATE
FOR
HOME
EFFECTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVELY
"UNDER THE EXISTING SYSTEM, THE MANNER IN WHICH SUCH DATES ARE DETERMINED IS RATHER COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT.
/"THE PROPOSALS
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