We pay property tax to the local municipal authority, which in turn provides essential services such as garbage collection, road maintenance, street lighting, and public healthcare. These services are extended to all residents, regardless of the amount of property tax they contribute.
Similarly, our housing society’s Managing Committee operates on a comparable principle. Members pay maintenance charges, and the Committee ensures the upkeep of common facilities—clean premises, functional lifts, operational water pumps, and regular pest control.
Given that both the Municipality and the Managing Committee follow a uniform service model, it raises a pertinent question: Why is property tax calculated based on the carpet area of a flat, while society maintenance charges are levied as a flat rate per member, irrespective of flat size?
As the Maharashtra government reconsiders the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, now is the right time to raise a long-standing concern: society maintenance charges should be calculated based on the carpet area of each flat, ensuring a fairer and more transparent system.