Property Owners: Don‘t Miss Out on Discounts
Tara A. Spears
If you love getting a bargain, January offers several great deals. Those owning property in Nayarit are rewarded if you pay the yearly amount of property tax and/or the municipal water-sewer fees this month. Although you have monthly and quarterly pay options, paying the lump sum at one time saves you pesos and time. In addition, the local property tax (predial) and municipal water (SIAPA) offices are side-by-side in La Penita so that once you snag a parking spot (challenging) you can take care of both bills in one trip. Both agencies give an additional discount if you have the INM senior citizen card. The generous 50% discount is designed to help the elderly and families of native peoples due to their reduced income. You would think that people would jump on this savings but approximately 50% of the land owners are in arrears!
For those new to Jaltemba Bay area, it often comes as a surprise that the water and sewer expense is not directly billed to the customer: it operates on an ‘honor system’ whereas the property owner is expected to come into the office to ask how much is owed and pay it. The SIAPA (Sistema de Agua potable y Alcantarillado de la Penita de Jaltemba) is still using a large paper accounting book to look up accounts and post the payments! The receipts are generated by a computer, surprisingly. “There is a set amount for residential service” explained the SIAPA office staff. “The rate varies by community (meaning Los Ayalas has a different rate than La Penita, et cetera) but all households have the same amount within each town.” Unlike urban areas where each property has a meter and customers pay according to what amount of water they use, rural Jaltemba Bay has a flat rate per property and a business consumption rate.
Not producing and delivering an individual paper bill is a cost cutting strategy that also is environmentally friendly. Since the La Penita landfill is closed, reducing waste is a hot government topic. There is discussion to eliminate paper billing for other utilities such as the hydro/electric and telephone. The responsibility and expense for building a new Jaltemba Bay landfill is under the jurisdiction of SIAPA- so it is vital to generate revenue by collecting from the delinquent accounts. At this time the only payment methods are cash in the office or Bancomer direct deposit, no credit cards.
There is one 2022 adjustment that I wasn’t aware of until making payment: there is a significant cost increase. According to Mexican media, in November 2021 both agencies, Nayarit Predial and SIAPA, approved rate increases that became effective 1 January. Victor Hugo Carrillo, Director of Cadastre/Property Tax stated that “There are areas that have increased land and structure value therefore its necessary to increase the predial”. Guayabitos is one such area so you should be prepared for a significantly higher tax bill. SIAPA administration approved a 30% rate increase. Even after applying the earned discounts there is a big jump in the total owed.
While waiting in line to pay these bills, I asked my neighbors what they thought about the increased costs: “No, I don’t agree, it’s unfair because I know that we are still in a pandemic, there is no employment for some…” “Everyone needs the vital service of water and now having to pay 30% more….” It is a complex situation that becomes even more difficult because SIAPA needs to have funds to provide service and yet the local economy is reeling from the loss of income in 2021.
Make it easy on yourself by planning ahead for the increased cost in order to eliminate the need to make two visits. By taking care of paying your property tax and municipal water/sewer obligation in January you earn a nice discount. Think of the savings as a reward and treat yourself to lunch at one of the area’s excellent restaurants.
Municipal Water/Sewer Office SIAPA
Calle Esteban Baca Calderon #89
Centro La Penita
2 streets south of main avenida
Property Tax Office PREDIAL next to SIAPA
Open only Monday-Friday
9:00 am -2:00pm
