Civic polls: No civic tax hike for Puneites this year
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) does not propose to increase property tax this year. Thus, there will be no tax hike for the ninth consecutive year. It is said that the ruling parties in the State instructed the civic body to not impose any tax hike on citizens due to the upcoming civic elections.
A proposal has been presented to the Standing Committee to not increase property tax. Since the Municipal Commissioner is the Administrator, the proposal will be approved.
The PMC is being ruled by the Administrator. Therefore, it is said that the decision to hike the tax has been avoided as a policy matter. Moreover, the civic elections are likely to happen in a few months. Since the Maha Yuti is ruling the State, it has control over the civic administration. If the property tax is hiked, the opposition will blame the ruling parties for the decision and will try to cash in on this during the polls. Therefore, it is said that instructions have been issued from the higher level to not hike the tax.
The civic body is preparing the Civic Budget 2025-26. Municipal commissioner Dr Rajendra Bhosale is conducting review meetings of various departments. According to the resolution passed by the General Body, any proposal on tax hike has to be approved before February 20.
Therefore, the Property Tax department has put forth the proposal before the Standing Committee to not hike the tax. It will be approved in the panel’s meeting on Friday (January 31).
Earlier, the civic body passed the proposal of a 10-pc tax hike in 2016. Later, the administration proposed an 11-pc increase every year. But the ruling BJP rejected the proposals. Earlier, 16 pc tax hike was affected in 2010-11 and 6 pc in 2013-14.
There has been no change in the percentage of property tax after 2016, except for the water cess. The property Tax was not increased till the last GB was dissolved in March 2022. Later, the Administrator’s rule started. On the excuse of a policy decision, the administration has avoided a tax hike. Civic officials clarified that though the administration has not proposed a tax increase, all concessions given in the property tax will continue.
