MONTEGO BAY, St James — St James Municipal Corporation has raked in a little over $8 million in overdue advertising fees over the last few days as an aggressive enforcement drive pays off.

“Payments were received over a four-day period, beginning Friday evening and continuing through today,” chairman of the corporation and Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

“The St James Municipal Corporation has collected $8,150,861.00 so far, reducing the original outstanding amount of $16,308,620.50 to $8,157,759.50,” he disclosed.

Last week, large banners bearing the corporation’s logo and name were draped over several billboards throughout the city, limiting exposure for those who had fallen behind in their fees.

While the mayor is happy some advertisers have now paid up, he is determined to go after those who have ignored requests to clear their overdue bills.

“We have received no communication from the remaining advertisers who are still in arrears,” said Vernon, who added that efforts will now be made to contact them by phone and e-mail.

He made it clear there will be no easing up with the ongoing collection drive.

“Until full compliance is achieved, the enforcement measures currently in place will be maintained,” said Vernon.

The local authority has been forced to take similar measures in the past as revenue dipped below what is required to sustain its operations.

“We have a city to run, and running a city requires adequate and reliable funding. Our resources are already stretched, and whenever there is a fallout in revenue we must intensify compliance activities to protect the city’s ability to function effectively,” the mayor explained.

“Outstanding advertising payments are a revenue matter, and when arrears grow to a level that threatens service delivery we must intervene decisively,” he stated.

Going forward, Vernon told the Observer, accounts will be more closely monitored and, where appropriate, there will be changes made in payment arrangements.

“Advertisers will be formally advised of these strengthened measures,” he added.

The mayor stressed that these activities are part of a commitment to fairness, accountability, and efforts to ensure that all entities benefiting from use of public space meet their obligations to the people of Montego Bay.

There have been similar efforts to boost revenue while simultaneously restoring public order in other municipalities across the country. From January to March this year the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation gave advertisers an opportunity to clear their backlog of fees and for illegally erected signage to be removed. It then moved to the next phase which involved legal action and cutting down the illegally placed and non-compliant signs.

In addition to a focus on collection of property taxes there has also been a clampdown on communities in St James and Trelawny where property owners have engaged in construction without obtaining permission from and paying fees to the local authorities.

Officials of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation led by Mayor Andrew Swaby (right0 and CEO Robert Hill (centre) removing one of the signs illegally errected in the Corporate Area.

VERNON… until full compliance is achieved, the enforcement measures currently in place will be maintained.