| – cites unrealistic prognosis“Agreed or not, budget will go to Local Govt.” – Finance Comm. ChairmanBy Zena Henry City Mayor Hamilton Green and Councilors delivered a fatal blow to the City Council’s 2014 budget proposal yesterday, describing it as being “unrealistic and lacking depth” in relation to what the already ailing Council is expected to accomplish in the coming year.A sitting of the Full Council in Chambers proved that several members were in disagreement of the 2014 proposal and so related in a majority vote of 11 persons being against, four persons being for, and one abstaining to vote on the proposed budget.Despite this clear indication that the majority of Councilors believe that the 2014 proposal should be revisited, budget overseer and Chairman of the Finance Committee Junior Garrett charged that, whether agreed upon or not, the budget proposed will be read before the Local Government Minister this morning; before askingFinance Committee Chairman Junior Garrett on his feet during Council’s budget presentation yesterday.the Council, “who’s stopping me?”As the division continues at the Municipality, several discrepancies were raised about the manner in which the budget was put together and the issues that were taken into consideration.Garrett and his team budgeted $2,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale,055,Cheap Jerseys Store,467,116 for the year 2014,Cheap Jerseys From China, taking into consideration funds allocated to the various Municipal departments, and funds allocated for the execution of city jobs. Within the proposal, Garrett looked at the Council’s liabilities – making special reference to the Council’s GPL bill, targets and assumptions,Baker Mayfield Jersey, among other things.The Councilors have charged, however,NFL Jerseys From China, that the budget has no ‘meat’. What they felt is that the proposal was “off the top”, with no in-depth information on how the Council is going to actually achieve and resolve some of the issues they face. Garrett said it is “assumed” that the Council will increase revenue,Wholesale Jerseys, and create ways in doing that.He said it is “assumed” that the debt recovery system will be improved and mentions assistance from the Central government. Councilors charged, however, that while it is assumed that these things will be achieved in the new year, nothing realistic is stated.Councilor Eon Andrews, in his presentation on the budget proposal, asked about the pursuit of delinquent tax payers and their prosecution. He questioned how funds would be used to improve the debt recovery unit and noted the low tone on the issue of property valuation as a means of revenue generation. That issue was one echoed by several other Councilors who could not understand that no reference was made in relation to effectively dealing with the issue.Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, in her presentation, read out the laws of the Municipal Act before noting the power of the Council, then touching on the Council’s last budget being signed off by the Local Government on November 7, 2013 (unknown to the Council). She also touched on the issue of property valuation and the need for areas of interest to be specified.After ‘congratulating’ Garrett and his team for the budget proposal, Mayor Green hammered the proposal by saying it lacks depth and does not cater for the duties and responsibilities of the Municipality. He said the budget was set “wittingly or unwittingly to embarrass the Council and by extension the Opposition.”He said the budget says nothing about the repair of roads.“For years we have done nothing on roads…nothing about materials for the Council. The budget does not say anything about the Council’s constraints and confrontations, thus making it a nonsensical budget.”The Mayor added that the poor budget proposal “is a formula for a political assault. I can see it; the Minister holding up this (proposal) and saying… ‘This is what they said they would do and achieve and this is what they have not done’. The Minister will gladly hold up this budget to ridicule.”The Chief Citizen went on to say that the budget does not cater for the Ratings Appeals Panel to ensure citizens’ redress and to further reduce excuses for the non-payment of taxes.Councilors Llewellyn John and Ranwell Jordan were in favour of the budget proposal, according to their presentations. John advocated for the Councilors to allow the budget after congratulating Garrett and his team for their efforts.Subsequent to the presentations, Councilor Garrett came swinging in defence of his 2014 budget proposal. He told the Mayor that what he is looking for is a complete review and breakdown of all the Council’s problems; but the budget proposal is not for that purpose. He said all Council departments were consulted at least three times before putting together the proposal.Garrett went on to slam the Mayor for “his stupid remarks,” highlighting that he did not even show up one day at the many budget meetings. The Mayor responded by saying he never practiced “popeing” meetings and therefore could not have attended the meeting if no schedule was handed over. The Mayor concluded that the “Mickey Mouse” budget is not appreciated.The Deputy Mayor added also that the Council has disagreed on the budget proposal and if it is read to the Local Government Minister this morning, then it will not be regarded as the Council’s budget, but as the personal presentation of Councilor Garrett. |
