File photo: A glimpse of Juba city, taken on May 10, 2024. Credit: Eye Radio / Koang Pal Chang

The Chairperson of the Juba City Legislative Council says the proposed Property Tax Bill will generate resources needed to improve basic service delivery and enhance public security in residential areas across the city.

During the second reading of the bill, Deputy Mayor for Administration and Finance Jenifer Yabu Lasuba said the legislation would strengthen the City Council’s ability to carry out its mandate through improved revenue collection.

Lasuba said the absence of a legal framework for property tax collection has limited the Council’s ability to mobilize resources and implement development projects.

“We have been lacking such laws to control us or give us ways of collections,” Lasuba said. “If you see the objectives of these laws, it gives us ways of service delivery. We have to improve.”

She said inadequate funding continues to affect key activities, including road maintenance, sanitation and environmental management.

“Without funds, we cannot improve, whether being in a road network, keeping Juba clean and green,” she said. “We have a number of activities that we feel we need to work on, but our concern is based on the cash at hand as the leadership of Juba City Council.”

Meanwhile, Diana Keji Jone said the Property Tax Bill would strengthen revenue collection and provide funding for essential services within the city administration.

Jone said revenue generated through the proposed tax framework would be invested in improving the operations of Juba City Council, including road construction and maintenance, installation of street lighting and waste management.

“The fund generated through this property tax framework will also be directly injected into transforming Juba City Council,” Jone said. “They will fund the carving of our roads and also installation of street lights and the management of waste to improve public security across residential areas.”

The two officials spoke on SSBC yesterday.