Fri Jan 24 00:40:16 IST 2025: ## Kochi Corporation Seeks Greater Financial Autonomy from State Finance Commission

**KOCHI, Kerala – January 24, 2025** – The Kochi Corporation is demanding greater control over its finances from the Kerala State government, urging the Seventh State Finance Commission (SFC) to grant it full authority over entertainment tax collection and a larger share of property and vehicle taxes.

During a meeting with SFC officials on January 23rd, Corporation representatives, including Mayor M. Anilkumar and Deputy Mayor K.N. Ansiya, highlighted significant revenue losses due to the replacement of property exchange tax and vehicle tax compensation with a maintenance grant. They also requested the SFC’s intervention to expedite the resolution of numerous building tax cases pending in the High Court.

Further demands included the appointment of qualified professionals to manage key Corporation departments, the establishment of special purpose vehicles for waste management, planning, and transportation, and amendments to the Kerala Municipal Rules to reflect the introduction of the K-Smart system. The Corporation also pressed for greater flexibility in utilizing funds from the People’s Plan program and full control over its own revenue streams, arguing that current mandatory allocations leave little room for local priorities. Streamlining project approval processes by eliminating the need to send files to Thiruvananthapuram was also requested.

Mayor Anilkumar stated that the issues raised will be presented to the council before a detailed report is submitted to the SFC. The Corporation’s plea underscores a broader struggle for greater financial autonomy and control over local resources by municipalities in Kerala.

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