THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC), projecting significant increase in its revenue collection this year, is crediting its improved financial fortune to the new revenue collection mechanisms being put in place, and existing money sources which the municipality is now better able to tap.This was the view of City Treasurer Ron Mc Calmon when he addressed the newly-appointed City Councillors during an orientation session at the Cara Lodge last week. Giving an overview of his department, while acquainting councillors with the M&CC’s various sources of revenue generation, the City Treasurer said: “We expect our revenue to increase by 11 per cent this year.”

He outlined various areas where the council intends to strengthen its revenue collection. For instance, Mc Calmon said, there are currently registered with the municipality 150 properties that have changed their status from residential to commercial, but are still paying the same meagre residential rates.

“Some of these people are paying $2,000 annually; $1,000, and even $800 for these properties,” he said, drawing affirmation from some veteran councillors who nodded and clapped.

Mc Calmon also spoke about the valuation and re-evaluation of properties to determine the actual sums owed to the municipality. He noted that better car and bus park management, land leases, revenue from new and rehabilitated vending spaces, and revenue collection from container operators, among others, will also increase the council’s fees.

City Hall intends to convene a special team to identify those persons offloading containers within the city during the night hours to avoid paying the sums due to the council. “So we will be working overtime (to catch) those persons,” Mc Calmon noted.

Having pointed to several other existing money earners, the Treasurer said his department is responsible for all of Council’s revenue generation and expenditure, including those of other departments.

Mc Calmon also urged councillors to work towards strengthening the Council’s finances with strong policies. Despite the projected increase, the Treasurer is of the view that more can be done to increase the agency’s revenue, especially with the number of projects and services that are intended to support efforts towards a green city lifestyle.