adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE cash-strapped Victoria Falls Municipality has increased commercial and low density rates by between 200 and 500 percent depending on location and zoning of property. The local authority argues that it has been undercharging commercial and low density rate payers with some paying as low as 43 cents per month.
A rates schedule shown to this paper shows that commercial properties that had been paying $25 refuse collection fees would now pay $30 per month while a property owner who has been paying 43 cents per month, will now fork out about $10,000 per month.
Most property owners were paying less than $100 a month.
The council has been meeting commercial ratepayers to explain the new rates. Under the new regime, low density property owners are now expected to pay between $6 and $24, with flats paying a minimum of $300 and maximum of $1,165 per month.
Lodges and hotels will now pay between $300 and $424 per month while industries will pay between $2,500 and $9,620.
Some ratepayers have said the increases are astronomical.
Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the adjustment of rates was not an increase but a correction of an anomaly.
“There is no percentage increase to talk about here because some people were paying nothing. Honestly how can you have a commercial property paying 43 cents per month when it is making a lot of money? All we are doing is correct an anomaly so that ratepayers pay according to the value of their properties,” said Dube.
He said as far as council was concerned, the rates were reasonable.
“The rates that property owners were paying were ridiculously low hence council was failing to meet its obligations such as paying salaries,” said Dube.
The council is owing workers seven months salaries.
Online Reporter