São Paulo - The mayor of São Paulo, Marta Suplicy, has announced that she will send a bill to the city council giving flood victims property tax (IPTU) exemptions.

A list of the areas where residents will get the exemptions should be ready next week and available on the internet at www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br .

A spokesman for the mayor said that studies have begun on returning taxes already paid. People who had their homes flooded should not pay the IPTU, but wait for further instructions, said the spokesman. He explained that it will take a few days for the bill on the matter to obtain legislative approval. (AB)