Four of Guyana’s six municipalities yesterday presented their approved 2014 budgets to the Local Government Ministry in keeping with the November 15 deadline.
Georgetown and Linden—the municipalities with the largest and third largest projected budgets, respectively–have not had their budgets approved as yet, thereby breaching municipal regulations.
The treasurers of the Anna Regina, Corriverton, New Amsterdam, and Rose Hall municipalities, who were accompanied by their respective Town Clerks, presented their 2014 budgets, as approved by their councillors. These budgets outline their intended income sources, expenditure, and the projects they plan on executing in the coming year.
Georgetown’s proposed 2014 budget of $2,055,467,116 was not presented yesterday. Chairman and Overseer of the Finance Committee Junior Garret explained to Minister within the Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker that the budget was not passed, and it would only be read upon his go ahead. Ultimately, the presentation was not made.
According to Garrett, the budget was not passed since the majority of Georgetown’s councillors, along with Mayor Hamilton Green, are not confident that it realistically reflects the municipality’s needs for the coming year. Whittaker said that steps will be taken to address the situations facing the Georgetown and Linden municipalities especially since they are already in breach of regulations.
Although not yet approved, Linden’s treasurer presented the municipality’s 2014 budget of $115,446,663. This amount is $11 million more than what was budgeted for 2013.
The largest approved budget to be presented yesterday was for $130, 815,551 and this was submitted by the Treasurer of New Amsterdam. Corriverton came next with a budget of $71,417,600—an amount which is more than $300,000 more than what was expended for the 2013 financial year. The majority of the revenue that will form this amount will be accumulated via the collection of market fees and the collection of rates and taxes. The municipality also told the minister that it intends to bolster its revenue intake by valuating new and existing properties, thereby updating the amounts to be collected on these properties.
Anna Regina intends to spend $58,644, 710 in 2014 altogether, while Rose Hall has budgeted $45,717,387 for the same period. This amount is $3,523,852 more than what was budgeted for 2013, and Whittaker noted that the increase in spite of a dip in the collection of rates and taxes.
