Software is expected to be introduced which will improve the collection of rates and taxes by $18 million, councillors heard yesterday as Acting Chairman of the Mayor and City Council’s Finance Committee, Junior Garrett, continued his presentation of the 2012 budget.
On Monday, Garrett had revealed that the budget was approximately $1.94 billion, and when debts are included, the figure stands at $2.77 billion.
He was forced to discontinue his presentation then after the exodus of several councillors resulted in the lack of a quorum.
“We intend to aggressively collect debts outstanding to put the council in a better financial position,” he said, adding that the budget would be strictly monitored on a monthly basis.
Garrett explained that this monitoring would ensure that there is a harmony between the budget and actual spending, so that any variant can be corrected immediately. “Council is a business and it must ground as a business. We have to account for the citizens’ money and we intend to do that,” he stated.
When asked by Councillor Fitzgerald Agard about the measures being put in place to ensure the collection of rates and taxes, Garrett indicated that a list of delinquent rate payers who owe over a certain figure will be placed in the print media with a request that they go in to City Hall. Further, those who refuse to adhere to the request will be placed before the court.
He reiterated that the budget will be monitored on a monthly basis, adding that the “city cannot continue down the road it has been… we have to bring it back to the garden city and not the garbage city and it can be done because we have a corps of committed people here who are working towards the development of this city.”
He indicated that employment costs amounted to $675 million, adding that the council is expected to maintain the same level of employment in 2012 as in 2011, except for the areas of constabulary, health and solid waste. He explained that this was owing to the council’s loss of the services of a private security firm as a result of its inability to upkeep payments. As a result, more will have to be invested in the constabulary department.
As it relates to solid waste, plans are in place to purchase more trucks and in the public health sector, more qualified persons are expected to be hired.
Garrett said that a campaign aimed at the reduction of telephone and electricity charges has been launched. Utility charges are estimated at $38 million.
Also, $101 million have been allocated for the maintenance of buildings, mainly the markets, the City Constabulary building, the City Engineers building, public health, solid waste and the treasurer’s departments. All departments are expected to be tooled with vehicles, which will cost $47 million.
The maintenance of drains and canals around Georgetown will cost $130 million while the removal of refuse would be $153 million.
This figure, Garrett pointed out, will gradually reduce over a two-year period until the council becomes self sufficient in 2014.
Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, who chaired yesterday’s meeting in the absence of Mayor Hamilton Green, stated that everyone should work in accordance with the budget to see what it brings forward.
However, she admitted that much more is needed to have the city of Georgetown return “to its glory – the Garden City.”
Councillors agreed to have the budget presented to the public on Monday, March 19 at 10 am.
