'Local Gov't reform needed'
published: Sunday | February 22, 2004
THE EDITOR, Sir:
WITH REFERENCE to your article in Thursday's Gleaner,
'Hanover P.C takes JPSCo to task', I was enlightened as well as startled at
the information that flowed. What was of particular interest to me was the mention
that Hanover collects $50 million in property taxes each year.
What happens to that money? Are we left behind because we are
so far on the map? If only half of that money collected was pumped into the
parish, we would be able to alleviate some of the problems that have existed
for years. When we try to fix the problems, we are told no money is there. Where
does it go? Is it sent to another parish that is already collecting its own
taxes?
Come people, this reform of the Local Government must begin somewhere.
How can we hype the public on reform when we cannot even fund our own Parish
Council with money collected within the Parish. There are roads to fix, people
need light and water. We are doing our part by paying taxes. Government, I think
you need to do your part by allowing the monetary resources to be spent where
it is collected and not transferred to another area. Someone needs to address
this issue immediately so our parish can develop and flourish.
