Originally posted by Atobe:
In a new attempt by HDB to increase car park charges, HDB had claimed that they are suffering losses operating the various HDB carparks facilities.
Despite a Straits Times reader criticism that HDB has a larger mass of carparks that allow HDB to enjoy "economies of scale" that URA do not have, HDB replied that the carparks provided in HDB estates cannot be compared with the carparks operated by URA.
Even in 2002, HDB had claimed of losses and had asked (and received) an approval for an 11% increase car park charges.
Surprisingly a Business Times report, in 2002, had contradicted HDB's claim and showed that HDB had made profit of S$91 MILLION for 1999-2000, and S$87 MILLION for 2000-2001 - (both after deducting interest to the Government).
HDB is now seeking approval for another increase in Parking Charges - is it justifiable ?
Business Times Report - 2002
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020528bt.htm
To be transparent and upfront with citizen stakeholder citizens of Singapore, HDB can surely tell us a bit more such as the following:-
(1) New lands acquired under Land Acquisition Act - does the HDB transfer ownership to the State Land office with profits being the difference between the acquired costs and market price of the land written down or transferred to the Consolidated Account of the government?
(2) Is it true that the lands after transfer to state land is then purchased by HDB from the State Land office at the prevailing market price and HDB then uses this market price to cost the selling price of HDB flats claiming in the process subsidy being made to HDB flat purchasers conveniently forgetting the profit transfer to Consolidated Account
(3) CAR PARK LAND - Is the car park land separated from transfer to state land office under (1) and (2)?
(4) If car park lands are separated from transfer to State Land or separately transferred and re-purchased back by HDB from State Land Office, how much were paid for these car park lands and how much profits were already transferred to Consolidated Account prior to HDB's re-purchase of car park lands.
If the above-stated information was not given or incorrectly given then it is obviously another can of worm like the NKF. Any proposals to increase car parking charges based on totally misleading information to public.