Hike in tax only after consensus

Mangalore: The matter of self assessment tax in the Mangalore city corporation (MCC) would be finalised only after convening a special meeting to discuss the matter, Mayor Mahabala Marla said at the first general body meeting of the newly elected members of the MCC. The mayor when elected to power, had stated that the self assessment tax would not be hiked. BJP member Premananda Shetty raised question regarding the promise of the congress about not hiking this tax.

He said that this tax had already been hiked by 15 percent during the administrator's tenure at the MCC. Responding to this at the meeting yesterday, the mayor said that he had already informed the election commission and the urban development minister about the hike when the election code of conduct was in force. However, the matter would be finalised only after arriving at a consensus, he said.