Santa Marta faces high property tax delinquency

Santa Marta is facing a significant fiscal challenge due to low property tax (predial) collection rates. According to the city's Secretary of Finance, Gonzalo Gutiérrez, approximately 67% of taxpayers have not paid their current year obligations. Of the projected billing for the current period, only about 33% to 34% has been collected.

The city's total non-prescribed property tax debt exceeds 249,000 million pesos. Officials noted a lack of payment culture, as only 5% of those in arrears have initiated processes to settle their debts. To address this, the Finance Department is accelerating legal actions and property seizures (embargos) to target major debtors.

Financial projections for 2027 are expected to be tight due to these debts and existing future obligations. While the city has collected 103,000 million pesos toward its annual goal of 150,000 million pesos, the real growth in revenue has remained stagnant when adjusted for inflation.