-10% wage hike for workers
The Georgetown Municipal-ity yesterday unveiled a budget for 2010 of $3.5 billion – 50% above last year’s – and the council says its success depends on several factors including recommendations stipulated by the Burrowes Report.
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, while delivering the budget speech for expenditure of the city this year, said it comes at the “tail end of a lengthy and meticulous process of participation from critical stakeholders”.
According to Williams, prior to the creation of the municipal budget, consultations were held with the relevant persons within Georgetown, including a series of “intense sessions” between Chairman of the Implementation Committee Keith Burrowes as well as other officials of the municipality.
This year’s budget gives priority to the provisions of the legally mandated services the municipality should provide by law including solid waste management, maintenance of roads, proper drainage, the enforcement of meat and food hygiene, enforcement of building codes, as well as management of the municipal markets.
Under current budget projections, the council will gradually phase out several services which had been under its mandate over the years. These include Maternal and Child Health Care, Youth Friendly Services as well as public health education. The programmes will be incorporated into national programmes, and will be managed by the respective government ministries.
Revenue collection
In the budget this year, $145 million has been allocated to strengthening revenue collection and the council is expected to focus on strengthening several departments. The Management Information Systems (MIS), Legal section and the Debt Recovery Unit of the council are expected to be upgraded during the year. Williams said an increase in the council’s coffers is expected with the strengthening of these departments, while acknowledging the probability of associated cost implications. He said the council has seen a slight increase in income from building fees this year.
Solid Waste Management
Under this venture, some $349.6 million has been allocated and the council has identified the signing of contracts for seven of ten collection areas designated within the city as being a key aspect of the solid waste programme. Phasing out and closure of Le Repentir landfill site is viewed as another key element of the programme and closure of the site hinges on the completion of the Haag Bosch Sanitary Landfill site behind Eccles on the East Bank Demerara.
Human Resources
Staff of the municipality are expected to benefit from a 10% pay increase this year. Through the Implementation Committee, training will be provided to staff of the municipality this year. Training programmes in Communication, Participatory Management, Customer Care and Customer Management are currently underway.
Information Technology
This year, $145M has been allocated to the Information Technology Department of City Hall as the council recognizes IT as a new method to facilitate revenue collection as well as a necessity in the current global environment for work programmes of the council.
Other significant areas where monies have been allocated in the 2010 Municipal Budget are: drainage ($408M), law enforcement ($398M), and public health ($235M), roads ($282M) and markets ($202M).
The success of the 2010 Municipal budget is seen as being directly dependent upon the implementation of the recommendations of the Burrowes’ Report, particularly in the areas of administration, finance and delivery of the municipality’s core activities.
Another key feature of the budget is the projected gap funding. Williams said it was necessary for the council to consider non-financial support from government and non-governmental agencies along with inflows coming from the annual government subvention, rates and taxes etc. The exercise revealed a likely $470m gap. Once the budget is approved, the finance committee will then establish the necessary mechanisms to deal with the gap.
