SAYING that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has, in the past, been beset by finical difficulties, Town Clerk Royston King, in a release, has declared, “The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is in great need of financial resources to conduct its daily operations”, and is pleading with rates payers to honour their civil responsibility and pay their fair share of rates and taxes.“An increase in revenue collection will ensure that the usually cash-strapped organisation distances itself from such a classification and become more financially independent in the future,” King explained.

He pointed out that in order for any economic venture to be considered sustainable, its revenues must, at all times, be more than its expenditure. Anything other than this ideal situation would eventually lead to the failure of such a venture, he offered.

“The effective operation of City Hall must be handled as if it were such a venture (that viability) will only be achieved when the collection (of) rates are improved and new revenue streams come on board to cushion the current system,” King said in the M&CC statement.

The M&CC earns the greatest percentage of its income from rates and taxes, coupled with markets’ revenues. As such, it is pertinent that these main sources are sustained and increased. Likewise, it is equally important to implement new revenue streams that will be used in conjunction with the current sources, King explained.

The Council recently advocated for such things as container fees and parking meters to be considered as avenues of revenue stream. Implementing both of these systems would augment the City’s ability to garner much-needed revenues, which in turn would be used to develop the facilities and infrastructure in Georgetown, the Town Clerk has said.

“It is often a travesty and embarrassment when the Council finds itself with an empty purse. This results in the delay and sometimes the non-payment of staff and contractors, which in turn renders the Council incapable of offering high quality services,” King has added.

Revenue generation –- in fact, frequent revenue generation — is key to ensuring that the Council moves from being cash-strapped to providing frequent and quality services. Equally important is the fact that improved revenue generation would allow the Council to attract and retain the necessary human capital required for effective administration of the M&CC.

The recently implemented revenue-generation ventures of City Hall should therefore not be viewed under a suspicious lens, King has reasoned. In fact, these very same revenues will be channelled into other services, including the maintenance of roadways, collection of garbage, rehabilitation of markets, and provision of vending spaces.

And while the citizenry is being called upon to do its part in paying up its taxes, corporate Guyana and other donor agencies are also being asked to come on board and assist.

“As we continue to work diligently to advance the interest of the citizens of Georgetown and develop our Garden City, it is important to do so in a sustainable way. The first step towards this kind of development entails getting our finances in order.
The Council has a number of developmental projects to be implemented, but before these can be executed, financial support is needed.

“The Council welcomes the opportunity to benefit from any national or international funds available to implement these projects.” The Town Clerk has said.