Ratepayers to face the music?

Kandy Mayor L.B. Aluvihare, during the budget speech, announced that the Kandy Municipal Council plans to increase the water taxes and the assessment rates.

He said water taxes would go up by a ‘reasonable percentage’ while assessment rates are due to go up by one per cent. The Mayor also pointed out that the Kandy Municipal Council was preparing itself to engage in the levying of charges for vehicles no sooner the case which is on-going is settled.

"The Municipal Council has to incur an enhanced expenditure for chemicals, electricity and labour in providing water facilities. With the intention of minimizing and to provide a better and continuous service to the ratepayers, we intend to purchase water from the Water Board and set off the additional expenditure. We intend to increase the water taxes by a reasonable percentage."

"Funds have been provided to purchase a vehicle for official travelling for the Municipal Commissioner and five three wheelers for the use of the Departments of Public Assistance, Finance, Ayurvedic and Legal sections," he declared. The Council has allocated in this Budget Rs. six lakhs for each member for work within the Kandy Municipal Council.

But, the main factor that should be understood by the ratepayers is that they should have taken a better interest in their own town, which is far from it.