The St. George's Corporation received $611,000 in this year's Budget, compared to the $350,000 from the previous two years. That's an increase of $261,000, leaving St. George's Mayor, E. Michael Jones speechless.

He said last night he wasn't sure why Government had allocated more than the $350,000 which the Corporation received each year to cover the dual property taxes in St. George's municipal area, but would know more following meetings scheduled for Monday morning.

Finance Minister Paula Cox yesterday said residents in the municipal area of St. George's will not be required to pay property taxes to the Corporation in 2005/06.

She said Government would once again provide the Corporation with an operational grant while the final details of revamped service delivery in the municipal area were negotiated between Government and the Corporation.

Mr. Jones said prior to 1970, residents in St. George, like all other Parishes, paid their land tax directly to their Parish, but this was changed in the early 1970s when land tax was paid directly to the Government.

What made St. George different was that the Corporation continued to do the work land tax paid for, including keeping the streets clean and maintained and residents in St. George's ended up paying a double tax.

The challenge, Mr. Jones said, was finding a permanent solution in which both the Government and the Corporation could benefit.