KORCE AND POGRADEC, MARCH 31, 2010    USAID Mission Director, Joseph C. Williams, and the Mayor of Korce, Niko Peleshi, launched today a new computerized tax systems in Korca.  The day before, Joseph Williams launched the same system in Pogradec with the Mayor, Artan Shkembi.  The system, which was developed through USAID’s Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA), will make tax collection and services more efficient and effective, thus leading to greater tax revenues for cities and improved services for citizens.

Until now, both Korce and Pogradec’s tax departments have done the majority of their work manually. With the new computerized system, the tax departments will be able to calculate tax bills and track tax payments more accurately and develop much-needed revenue projections and analyses.  With greater tax collections and payments coming in to the cities, the municipalities are expected to be able to deliver higher quality services to their citizens.

The tax system is part of a broader initiative to improve tax payer services at the municipal level.  The municipal tax departments are working closely with small business associations to enhance information exchange between local tax officials and the business community.  In addition, Korce and Pogradec recently developed, with USAID/LGPA support, a series of tax leaflets to inform business and citizens of their tax responsibilities, thereby simplifying the process for local tax payers.

To date, USAID/LGPA has introduced computerized tax systems in 5 municipalities, including Lezhe, Fier, Fushe-Kruje, Korce, and Pogradec. In total, USAID/LGPA is contributing more than 370 million Lek to computerize 10 municipal tax departments including almost 3 million Lek in Pogradec and 3.5 million Lek in Korce.

USAID’s Local Governance Program in Albania (LGPA) works with ten municipalities throughout Albania to foster local economic growth, improve local governance, and strengthen civic and private sector engagement in local development.  LGPA’s partner municipalities are: Elbasan, Fier, Fushe-Kruje, Gramsh, Korçe, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Pogradec and Shkoder.