The Belize City council has a new deputy mayor. He is Dean Samuels who was elected by his fellow councilors and takes over from Phillip Willoughby.
Samuels, who also has responsibility for traffic, works, streets and drainage for southside will serve as deputy until the end of the term of life for this council in 2012.
Willoughby meanwhile takes over markets. But, he's still in charge of being an all occasion spokesperson. And today he told us why the council has decided that instead of the quintennial review of the property tax roll - which would raise everyone's property tax, the council will only do a surgical review:..
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor - Belize City
"There aren't no or any new taxes that the council will be issuing for this upcoming financial year."
Jules Vasquez
"Aren't you all due for a quinquinennial review?"
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor - Belize City
"The quinquenniall is due every 5 years but in light of the current economic situation we won't be issuing any more increase."
Jules Vasquez
"Isn't it in light of the upcoming election?"
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor - Belize City
"Well you are the one requesting it to be looked at that way but we are just looking in light of everything else being equal and the current cost of living at this moment but what will be reviewed, it won't be the entire tax roll that will be re-assessed or increased, but we need to contemplate how we look at some of these properties, businesses that are grossly - and I am saying this strongly - that are undervalued and those will be looked at and reviewed and that will be discussed with Belmopan - our cabinet ministers and proceeding that it is ok, then we will proceed from there, but we need to."
Jules Vasquez
"But you all don't have autonomy, if it's undervalued, you all, who knows it better than you all?"
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor - Belize City
"Yes but I think it's just the position that we need to enlightened and engage everyone to share or promulgate what the underlining issue here is that some properties are grossly undervalued and those are the properties that needs to be reviewed and re-assessed."
Jules Vasquez
"So as not to create widespread panic. What percentage of property owners should expect a re-valuation considering that the 5 year review has been shelved?"
Phillip Willoughby, Deputy Mayor - Belize City
"I believe it's out of about 210, some 30 odd from the tax roll."
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