Rumba says, Businesses not paying tax on licence

MOST business operating in Mt Hagen are not paying tax on land rates or licenses, says acting deputy city manager Robert Rumba.
He said this was not helping the city council to sustain its operations.
Rumba said sometimes the National Government grant was not paid on time for council to meet its operational costs.
He said any person operating different kinds of business, such as fast food outlets, needed to pay their land rates and licenses.
“We can take the businesses to court for them not paying their fees,” Rumba said.
“The law is in place.
“It is not right when business houses are reluctant to pay their rates, which is not good at all.
“How can we do our normal operation when we do not have the funding support?
“We will need their support to carry out the work and maintain our operations.
“Business needs to pay their tax.”
Rumba said Mt Hagen was facing an influx of people daily.
He said without money they could not do much to control these people and the city.
Rumba said council had plans in place to sustain its operations but funding was the problem.