The Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) of New Amsterdam is proposing a $244 million budget for next year. This is a 6.2 per cent decrease from the 2024 budget.
M&TC recently presented its 2025 budget proposal and estimates that some $244 million will be spent.
From property tax, it estimates to collect $96.7 million. However, employment cost is set at $135.7 million.
The budget was presented under the theme, “Building a clean, healthy and prosperous town for all.”
Treasurer, Kyandra Gomes noted that both external and local economic shocks continue to affect the municipality.
As of August, the council was experiencing a deficit of 53 per cent of its 2024 budgeted estimates.
Treasurer of NA Mayor and Town Council, Kyandra Gomes
“This is due to inflation and many Government agencies which continue to fail to honour their responsibilities and pay their taxes and fees for the construction to buildings. However, the residents continue to shoulder the burden of the Town for it to be run on a daily basis. We applauded the citizens who continue to pay their taxes and honour their obligations,” the treasurer said.
Despite the constraints, the treasurer said the Mayor and Town Council has been able to improve its garbage collection system as it now has three compactor trucks. However, there is still a labour shortage issue affecting that department.
Competition coming from the Government’s part-time 10-day work programme is the major contributory factor affecting the shortage of labour, Gomes said.
The 2025 proposed budget is smaller than the 2024 budget.
“The total sum for the 2025 budget is $243,906,122 which is a decrease from 2024 budget of $15,067,218. After careful examination by all heads of department in trying to realise a budget that would avoid a budget deficit in the new year.”
Budget 2025, proposes the procurement of an ice machine, improvements to the town hall, and the establishment of a canteen facility at the Esplanade Ground.
The Municipality has budgeted to collect $51 million in market revenue, an $18 million subvention from the Government, and earn $376,000 from its investments.
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Kirk Fraser explained that a lot of thought was put into the 2025 budget preparation and is in alignment with the broader expectations of the Council’s desire.
“It is an alignment of the finances matching the objectives of the Council,” he said. (G4)
