Financing Cities in India : Municipal Reforms, Fiscal Accountability and Urban Infrastructure

Cover -- List of Tables -- List of Boxes -- List of Abbreviations -- Preface -- 1 Overview -- 2 India's Urban Fiscal Problem -- 3 A Portfolio of Municipal Taxes -- 4 Taxation of Urban Land Value -- 5 Reforming the Property Tax -- 6 User Charges, Benefit Charges and Fees -- 7 Intergovernmental Transfers to Municipalities -- 8 Development Financing Instruments -- 9 Value Creation, Capture and Recycling -- 10 Conclusion: An Agenda for Reforms -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the Author;Identifies the potential of cities as major drivers of economic growth and productive employment if municipal finances are managed better Highlights the potential of cities as major drivers of economic growth and productive employment if municipal finances are managed better This book identifies Indian municipalities as among the weakest globally in terms of access to resources, revenue-raising capacity and fiscal autonomy. Advocating reforms in these sectors, it discusses the lack of clarity, consistency, adequacy and predictability in municipal taxation, user charging, inter-governmental transfers and development financing as key factors plaguing city finances. Topical and up-to-date, the book brings out the need to align particular types of revenues to particular categories of expenditure so that services can be delivered in a responsive, transparent and accountable manner. How is management of municipal finances related to economic growth and productive employment in urban India? This book identifies Indian municipalities as among the weakest globally in terms of access to resources, revenue-raising capacity and fiscal autonomy. Advocating reforms in these sectors, it discusses the lack of clarity, consistency, adequacy and predictability in municipal taxation, user charging, inter-governmental transfers and development financing as key factors plaguing city finances. Topical and up-to-date, the book brings out the need to align particular types of revenues to particular categories of expenditure so that services can be delivered in a responsive, transparent and accountable manner. Cover 1 List of Tables 10 List of Boxes 12 List of Abbreviations 14 Preface 20 1 Overview 22 2 India’s Urban Fiscal Problem 34 3 A Portfolio of Municipal Taxes 64 4 Taxation of Urban Land Value 93 5 Reforming the Property Tax 119 6 User Charges, Benefit Charges and Fees 147 7 Intergovernmental Transfers to Municipalities 174 8 Development Financing Instruments 206 9 Value Creation, Capture and Recycling 235 10 Conclusion: An Agenda for Reforms 264 Bibliography 301 Index 318 About the Author 328 Overview -- India's Urban Fiscal Problem -- A Portfolio Of Municipal Taxes -- Taxation Of Urban Land Value -- Reforming The Property Tax -- User Charges, Benefit Charges And Fees -- Inter-governmental Transfers To Municipalities -- Development Financing Instruments -- Value Creation, Capture And Recycling -- Financing Cities In India: An Agenda For Reforms. Prasanna K. Mohanty. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.