Early work on 2026 budget underway as City Council responds to 2025 budget delays

In the wake of delays that affected the presentation of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) 2025 budget, the Council is now taking proactive steps to avoid a repeat of the situation.
Officials have indicated that systems are being put in place to streamline the budgeting process, with the goal of ensuring that the 2026 budget is prepared and submitted in a timely manner.
The early planning of the Georgetown M&CC’s 2026 budget was formally discussed during the Council’s June statutory meeting on Monday.
Officials noted that the delay in presenting the 2025 budget had caused several operational challenges, hampering the Council’s ability to carry out essential services.
In fact, during Monday’s statutory meeting, Town Clerk Candace Nelson emphasised the need for urgency in addressing the Council’s budgetary planning processes.
She proposed that concrete systems and timelines be established as soon as possible to ensure that the 2026 budget is prepared and submitted well ahead of schedule.
Nelson noted that early planning would not only help the Council avoid the setbacks experienced due to the late submission of the 2025 budget but also allow for improved coordination among departments, greater stakeholder input, and a more structured approach to municipal financial management.
“Sir, in order to properly plan for next year, can we set a date when we are actually going to start looking at the budget for 2026 so that we can start early and have the budget approved on time?”
The town clerk added, “I believe that it is important for us to at least make a decision that for 2026 we are going to have a budget approved early… What I will do is speak to the treasurer and let her start putting systems in place, and maybe we can discuss at the level of the finance committee when we would like to start discussions for the 2026 budget.”
Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, also threw his support behind the proposal for early budget planning, underscoring the importance of timely financial preparation in ensuring the smooth operation of the Council.
“What needs to be put in place in relation to this budget is maybe have specific people dealing with it from an early stage, and they have to recommend what needs to be put in place… But I personally would like it to be done earlier,” the mayor noted.
Mentore emphasised that the setbacks experienced due to the delayed 2025 budget should serve as a lesson and that proactive planning is critical to meeting the needs of the city and its residents in a timely and effective manner.
Meanwhile, the Georgetown M&CC hosted its 2025 budget presentation exercise on June 3. Presenting the budget was Councillor Lelon Saul, who is also the council’s finance chairman.
Saul began his presentation by addressing the late submission of the 2025 budget, originally scheduled for agreement by November 2024 but delayed by several months due to administrative challenges.
Nevertheless, Saul revealed that the council’s 2025 budget is designed to allocate funds wisely and efficiently, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for Georgetown residents through prudent leadership, smart investments, and innovative solutions.
The strategic priorities include driving economic development by supporting local businesses, attracting new enterprises, promoting entrepreneurship, and investing in infrastructure improvements, among others.
According to Saul, successfully executing these initiatives will demand a substantial financial commitment, with the council estimating a need for approximately $4.2 billion in funding.
However, the projected revenue for the 2025 fiscal year falls short of this requirement, standing at around $3.8 billion.