THE New Amsterdam Municipality has announced its budget for the year 2012, with the expectation of garnering $125,182,360 in revenue. Although there have been no increases in the rates and taxes and that some homes have retained values of $620, $480 and $220, based on a 1975 valuation, the Council expects to collect $63,764,935 from the properties.
Town Treasurer, Ms. Sharon Lamazon Anderson made the budgetary presentation to a disappointing turnout of the citizenry, in the New Amsterdam Town Hall last Friday.
Trade unionist Mr. Norman Semple said the poor attendance of councillors and the general public is an indication that there is an apparent lack of interest.
He said citizens tend to complain that the Council is not doing anything but the citizenry should have used the opportunity to have a say in the town’s affairs.
The annual budget, which is yet to be approved by the Ministry of Local Government, has anticipated income from the market revenue, government subvention, investment income and rental of parks and playfields. Grants, gifts and donations were estimated at $750,000.
The market is expected to earn $26,764,935 and the stallholders are to pay outstanding sums for their vending spots.
Mayor Claude Henry, who was also in attendance, remarked that, following the increase of stall rentals in 2007, a then government official had visited the Municipal Market and instructed the vendors not to pay the raised charges which were hiked on the basis of a formula executed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the various municipalities.
On the issue of garnering the bulk of the finance from the Municipal Property Tax, the Mayor said, despite various efforts by the Council to recover unpaid sums from taxpayers, those who owe, including Government Ministries, have failed to honour their obligations.

TIMELY MANNER
“Citizens pay their utility bills in a timely manner but fail to pay their taxes, yet they are critical, when there is limited development,” Mr. Henry remarked.
Despite challenges faced, Henry said the Council procured an excavator and another machine, along with a garbage compactor truck to improve its solid waste disposal.
Alluding to the fact, that, in spite of warnings, mass dumping continues along the road shoulders by business personnel and residents alike, the Mayor pointed to the need to have the town’s by-laws revised, similar to those of Georgetown’s, which would allow the members of the Constabulary to impose fines on delinquent citizens, thus boosting the revenue.
Credit was given to Grace Temple Assemblies of God Church, in Pope Street, for its continued support in enhancing the town’s environment. On November 7 last, the Grace Environmental Rangers took to the streets of the township, removing solid waste and trimming overgrown weeds along the road shoulders.
Henry appealed to the citizenry to boost the group’s morale by assisting them with their time or resources.
Other areas addressed for securing more revenue were the construction of concrete fences and bridges, storage fees, blocking the roadways, footpaths with construction material, thus obstructing the free flow of traffic.
Henry mentioned the current breach of the market by-law by vendors lighting fires in their business places.
“The by-law stipulates that no fire is to be lit in the market place. Should a fire take place, we would be in breach of the $50M insurance. We cannot make a claim to Guyana Trinidad and Mutual Fire Insurance,” he observed.
Henry also warned consumers of purchasing meat from some supermarkets, which is not inspected by Public Health Inspectors because the animals are killed at bottom houses.
He said the publicised promised donation of $5M by Pesident Bharrat Jagdeo, which was to be given in aid of the New Amsterdam Town restoration, is still to be received by the Council.