Secretary Mr. Roger Sherratt said yesterday.

The increases amount to 2.4 percent for residential properties and 2.5 percent for commercial properties, Mr. Sherratt said, and are "just keeping up with the cost of living''.

Corporation taxes for owners now amount to 0.85 percent of the annual rental value of residential properties and 3.2 percent of the annual rental value of business premises. For occupiers, the tax rates are 0.43 percent of the ARV for residences and 3.2 percent of the ARV for businesses.

Hamilton has 976 taxpayers for residential units and 2,578 taxpayers for business units, he said.

Construction of the $5.5-million carpark at Bull's Head, which is on schedule, is "a separate issue'' which is unrelated to the tax hike, Mr. Sherratt said.

The Corporation is set to introduce paid on-street parking on April 1 as a means of paying for the new garage, which will have spaces for up to 860 cars.

The carpark is on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of October.

Construction of the carpark has resulted in the temporary loss of 200 spaces at Bulls Head, aggravating Hamilton's already serious parking problems. The Corporation is soon expected to open a temporary carpark to help ease the shortage.

There will be no 1995 property tax increases in St. George's, which relies on cruise ship, port, and wharfage fees for most of its revenues, said Town Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward.