Fort George Rep Wants More Discussion on Property Tax

Homeowners are facing higher property taxes this year after the Belize City Council approved the first increase to property valuations in more than a decade. City Hall says the tax adjustment, set at roughly eighteen percent, is necessary to bring property values in line with current market conditions and to ensure the council can continue funding essential services. Officials say that while the increase looks high on paper, incentives like the fifteen‑percent early‑payment discount could leave many residents paying much less overall. The change takes effect this year, marking the first major revision since 2013. But the move has sparked concern among Belizeans already feeling stretched by rising costs of living. Now, even elected leaders are calling for more dialogue before changes are fully implemented. Here’s Fort George Area Representative Henry Charles Usher.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Area Representative, Fort George

“So I think that it’s something that certainly we need to have more consultations with households, with businesses in terms of looking at these different – the trade license certainly, and the property tax. I haven’t had that many complaints come to me from the area, but I know overall it’s something that people are worried about and we want to have that discussion with the mayor and with the city council team.”