Caracas Libertador municipality way behind in vehicle tax collections

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Vehicle tax collection has ended in Caracas with the majority of municipalities showing a surplus over expected income, except for Libertador municipality ... which failed to meet its 7.5 billion bolivares target by 1.5 million. 

Baruta municipality set a 100-million target and ended up with 700 million, Chacao 50-million reached 1 billion, El Hatillo 30-million reached its target in one day and went on to net 120 million. All are administered by opposition mayors.

Even Sucre, in the hands of a government mayor, did well setting its target at 130 million and reaching 500 million bolivares. 

Where did Libertador Mayor Freddy Bernal go wrong? 

Libertador superintendent, Richard Salas admits there is 30% bad debt on vehicle taxes. 

Other municipalities say they have noted an influx of Libertador residents at their collection offices to avoid digging into their pockets to pay 67,000 bolivares, whereas in El Hatillo the tax only costs 4,000 bolivares.