Trelawny municipality eyeing big bucks in 2019-2020

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC) is eyeing a substantial increase in revenue for the 2019-2020 financial year, aiming to collect approximately J$697 million.

This figure is $326 million more than the amount collected for 2017-2018.

According to Carol Dalling, chief financial officer of the TMC,

in the last financial year, the municipality comfortably surpassed its projected target and is confident that it will be able to do the same for the 2019-2020 budget year.

"In the last financial year, we collected $19 million above the target," said Dalling in explaining the reason behind the optimism. "We expect to get the bulk of collection from property tax, which we expect will bring in $309 million."

Dalling also pointed out that motor vehicle licensing and building and subdivision are expected to bring in a combined total of $173 million, which is substantially more than what was collected for the 2017-18 period.

Like Dalling, Falmouth's mayor, Councillor Colin Gager, is also quite upbeat as according to him, with some entities under the management of the TMC self-financing, they will be in a position to finance other projects.

"There are some entities which will be self-financing. The new $300-million Falmouth Market, which is scheduled for an official opening on October 12, is one such entity. We will be operating a cashless system to ensure that the budgeted $18 million is collected."