Deputies Peter Roffey and Aidan Matthews lodged an amendment to the 2024 budget that asked deputies to agree “that rates of Tax on Real Property shall not be increased above the rate of inflation unless and until a suitable deferred payments scheme is put in place for qualifying taxpayers who are unable to afford to pay such enhanced rates”.
Deputy Roffey clarified that “qualifying taxpayers” didn’t necessarily mean elderly pensioners, but also people with disabilities who might need to extend their home to account for additional needs.
“If we don’t do something like this there’ll be people who are really seriously affected,” he said.
The amendment would’ve led to a loss in States revenue by roughly £700k, something which Deputy Lester Queripel said he could stomach.
“I’m prepared to accept that… because on balance there is a huge benefit here to our elders who are asset-rich and cash poor.”
Despite some support, the Treasury Lead for Policy and Resources, Deputy Mark Helyar said it was another case of “whack-a-mole”.
He argued that if you reduce revenue somewhere, you’ll need to generate it somewhere else.
“[Not only that, but] deferring payments creates a cashflow problem for the States, we cannot pay teachers, nurses or doctors with IOUs… we pay them with cash.”
The amendment was split into two propositions, and both were voted out:
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Pictured top: (L-R) Deputies Roffey and Matthews.
