– councillors already briefed on provisions of budget
ACTING Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC), Junior Garrett, yesterday, concluded his presentation of the municipality’s 2012 budget to the council, and March 19 has been set for its presentation to the public. A number of councillors did not agree to the $1.9B budget when Garrett made his first presentation last Monday at the statutory meeting, and many of them boycotted that meeting, resulting in a lack of quorum.
Yesterday’s meeting in the Council’s chambers, however, saw a quorum that facilitated the completion of Garrett’s submission of the financial estimates.
Garrett was praised by Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Councillor Ranwell Jordan for the in-depth work he has put into the budget.
“For too long, the citizens have been fooled by a big budget that does not materialize. This one is to ensure what we have is attainable,” Garrett remarked.
According to him, the council will maintain the same level of employment, except in the areas of the City Constabulary, Health and Solid Waste Management departments. The private security firm is no longer working with the Constabulary; more trucks are expected to be purchased for solid waste; and more qualified persons are needed in Health.
Garrett said $101M is expected to be used for maintenance of municipal buildings, and vehicles to the value of $47M will be bought for all departments, the main ones being the Engineer’s and the Solid Waste departments.
For the disposal of garbage, $153M was set aside; and according to Garrett, the council intends to revise the debt recovery section to aggressively pursue outstanding debts.
It is intended that the budget will be monitored on a monthly basis.
Garrett thanked Mr. Keith Burrowes, Chairman of the Implementation Committee that was set up to investigate the operations at City Hall, for his assistance to the council, and expressed his hope that Burrowes would continue to lend his support to the work of the council.
In order to collect monies owing to the council, Garrett said, efforts would be made to have set up a municipal court that could serve to expedite the municipal cases. He said the names of delinquent rate payers who owe a certain amount would be placed in the print media, and those who fail to adhere to the call for an audience would immediately be placed before the court.
Garrett observed that large amounts are outstanding to the council; and, as such, there would be no waiver on interests this year, because permitting this makes the council lose millions.
Chase-Green urged the councillors present to ‘put their shoulders together’ in working with the budget. She said monitoring of the budget would be done each month, to assist the council in spending accordingly.
She expressed confidence that Georgetown would be returned to its glory days, and that citizens would be able to see a “garden city once again.”