DAGUPAN CITY, (PNA)–The city treasurer here officially declared a projected revenue collection shortfall in the city government till December 31 this year in the amount of P30 million, believed to be a big set back to the new city administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez.
With less than three months more to go before the end of the year, City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara anticipates that the city government can not meet the projected P612 million for year 2013 which was targeted to be collected under the approved annual budget of the city.
In a presentation during the weekly executive meeting called by Mayor Fernandez, Alcantara read an earlier letter to the city executive stating that per monitoring of the city’s annual collection as of August 31 this year, a shortfall of around P30 million of the targeted collection of P612 million is likely to arise.
She said the total collection, excluding the proceeds realized by the city from last year’s sale of MC Adore building which is P119 million as of Aug. 31, 2013, was only some P418.1 million.
Nevertheless, Alcantara went to assure the mayor that they can still collect P156 million more from September to December 31, 2013.
This would mean that the total realizable income up to the end of the year would only be P582 million, below P30 million of the targeted collection of P612 million.
Mayor Fernandez vowed never to touch the proceeds in the sale of MC Adore as the sale of the same is still under court litigation.
Alcantara said the projected shortfall will come about due to the expected P5 million deficiency in business taxes with an expected collection of P125 million from the target of P130 million, P10 million shortfall from the real property taxes as they can collect only P32 million from P42 million target.
On the other hand, the shortfall from market and slaughterhouse is only P1 million as they can only realize P49 million, from the P50 million target up to the end of the year.
Alcantara said they targeted P78.9 million collection from other local sources of revenue but projects only a reliable income of P58 million.
In view of the expected P30 million collection shortfall. the city treasurer expressed the need to set aside adequate amount monthly for personal services to guarantee the city government workers prompt payment.
Alcantara said she bared the expected revenue collection shortfall for the city government to further trim down its expenses to ensure that a deficit will not come out at the of the year.
City Budget Officer Luz De Guzman said that only P18.4 million is what remains to be reverted in the city coffer, but the city must yet take care of electric bills from July to September in the amount of P27 million and its existing emergency workers, consultants and volunteers whose salaries, wages and honorarium total P15.2 million.
Seeing the report of the city treasurer, Mayor Fernandez ordered all city hall officials and employees to adopt more belt-tightening and cost cutting measures as she urged those in charge of collection to further intensify their collection activities.