ST. JAMES MUNICIPAL CORPORATION PRESENTS BUDGET OF $2.86 BILLION
MONTEGO BAY, October 9 (JIS):
The St. James Municipal Corporation has proposed an operational budget of $2.86 billion for the 2027/2028 financial year.
This includes allocations for road repairs, street lighting, garbage collection, public order, disaster preparedness and social services across Montego Bay and the wider parish.
Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Vernon, made the announcement during the Corporation’s first public city hall budget consultation, held at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on October 8.
“This 2027/2028 budget is not predicated on any increased fees nor is it built upon the introduction of a single new municipal fee,” Mr. Vernon stated.
The plan comes a year after Hurricane Melissa caused $750 million in damage to municipal assets and cut the Corporation’s own revenue collection by 85 per cent.
Mr. Vernon outlined that largest allocations include $709 million for administration, $476 million for solid waste management, $337 million for streetlighting, $335 million for public order, $251 million for social development, $190 million for disaster management and $172 million for road works.
The Corporation will also allocate $141 million for markets, $64 million for minor water supplies, $49 million for parking facilities, $47 million for community engagement, $38 million for beautification, $34 million for divisional projects and $17 million for cemeteries.
Mr. Vernon, however, pointed out that the road allocation would not be enough to address all the parish’s needs, given the Corporation’s responsibility for more than 500 kilometres of parochial roads.
“This allocation is significantly less than what is required to truly transform the road network of St. James. We cannot fix every road at once but we will make this $172 million work strategically by prioritising the worst roads first, guided directly by community consultations,” Mr. Vernon explained.
The Mayor indicated that public order is another major focus with plans to expand the Municipal Police Force from 25 to 50 active officers as well as introduce regulated permit parking along busy commercial corridors, including Barnett Street, Lightbody Avenue, St. Clavers Avenue and Lazaretta Drive.
In the meantime, the Corporation has proposed a $1.086-billion capital programme covering 12 projects.
Mr. Vernon said $200 million has been allocated for the Old Shoe Market, $150 million for upgrades to Charles Gordon Market, $100 million for the Montego Bay Transportation Centre and $400 million for urban renewal, including sidewalks and improvements to public spaces.
A further $56 million is earmarked for an early warning system to detect flooding along the Montego River and the North and South Gullies, with Catherine Hall among the areas to benefit.
He stated that the programme will be paid for with $456 million from the Tourism Enhancement Fund and sponsors, $450 million from asset optimisation and $180 million in insurance proceeds.
“The operational budget enables us to manage the parish we have inherited. The capital programme enables us to build the parish we aspire to become,” Mr. Vernon underscored.
Writer: Okoye Henry