GEORGETOWN Mayor Hamilton Green lamented, on Wednesday, that, even if the municipality manages to collect the maximum taxes, the amount would still be insufficient to provide a satisfactory service for its citizens.
Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, in his City Hall Parlour, he said the 2011 Municipal Budget is predicated on the realities of the financial situation of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
“That situation has not changed but has worsened because prices have gone up, salaries have gone up and the equation remains the same,” Mr. Green declared.
However, he said the Council will redouble its efforts to collect revenue even though it is inhibited by the fact that it is not getting the valuation roll although the Municipality has been pleading with Government to hand over the new values of buildings.
“We have buildings which are of multi-million dollar value that were converted from small cottages and structures and we are not benefitting from that new development, even though we should,” Green maintained.
He said the Council has written to President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Ministry of Finance, asking for budgetary support for the budget which will be presented early next week.
Green said the focus of the estimates is to maintain municipal buildings, restructure staff and see, where possible, to improve efficiency. “That, itself, is a challenge, because efficiency is predicated on the institution having certain basic requirements which we lack at the moment.”
Major discrepancies in the $2.7 billion M&CC proposed budget have resulted in a delay of its presentation, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Royston King explained last week.