I urge the council to reconsider and to restore the 25% institutional rate to its original purpose
As a councillor and as a former mayor of Georgetown, I wish to address a matter of significant concern regarding the recent decision by the current council to approve a 25% institutional rate. This rate, as you are aware, has been approved with the stated intent of benefiting various organizations, including political parties such as the PNC/R. It is essential to scrutinize this decision to ensure it aligns with principles of fairness and accountability.
During my tenure as mayor, the 25% institutional rate was indeed gazetted; however, it was established with a specific and distinct purpose. The rate was designed to provide support to non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and educational institutions that play vital roles in our community. These entities were to benefit from reduced rates to support their important work, not to provide a preferential financial escape for political parties or other groups.
As I remember, the underlying rationale was to foster community development and educational advancement, not to enable certain political parties to evade their civic responsibilities. The decision made by the current council to extend this rate to political parties, including the PNC/R, represents a serious deviation from the original intent and spirit of the policy. It is very worrying that this move could be perceived as an attempt to benefit one political faction disproportionately, thereby undermining the fairness of the city’s tax system and eroding public trust in our governance.
The distinction between the policy I endorsed and the one currently enacted is crucial. Under my administration, the 25% rate was carefully crafted to serve community- centric organizations, with a clear focus on public benefit rather than political advantage. The current council’s extension of this rate to political parties introduces a troubling precedent where
political considerations may override principles of equitable taxation and civic responsibility. This policy shift has implications beyond the immediate financial benefits to political parties. It risks setting a dangerous precedent where the integrity of our tax system is compromised for partisan gain.
The role of the council is to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of all citizens, not to create mechanisms that may be perceived as serving particular political agendas. Therefore, I urge the council to reconsider this decision and to restore the 25% institutional rate to its original purpose. We must ensure that our policies are consistent with values of fairness and transparency that the people of Georgetown expect and deserve.