Portmore Municipal Corporation meeting deadlines despite staffing issues
Published:Thursday | May 2, 2024 | 12:12 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
The Portmore Municipal Corporation (PMC) is currently operating at only 48 per cent of the required staff complement, resulting in challenges across various departments and affecting its ability to effectively deliver services to residents.
Courtney Campbell, director of corporate services at the PMC, acknowledged the pervasive nature of the shortfall to residents at a town hall meeting.
“The shortfall is pervasive in all departments - accounts, finance, human resources, etc. We are meeting our deadlines, but this has placed tremendous pressure on the staff we are currently operating with,” Campbell divulged.
Residents expressed frustration over delayed service delivery, particularly in the enforcement and planning departments.
Despite the staffing challenges, Campbell presented a preliminary budget totalling just under a billion dollars for work that needs to be done.
“This is what the municipality intends to do over the next year, the largest budget that has ever been crafted with a total expenditure of 898,585,874 million dollars, and a total revenue of $798,333,314 million,” Campbell stated, attributing the difference of $100,252, 516 million in revenue to anticipated salary increases that have not yet been implemented.
Mayor Leon Thomas emphasised the importance of community engagement, announcing plans for four town hall meetings throughout the year. He also revealed the upcoming unveiling of the local sustainable development plan at the official opening of the new Portmore Municipal Building on May 20.
Thomas highlighted the municipality’s commitment to transparency and public involvement.
“The municipality charter of 2003 mandated the municipal council to take the budget to the people in town hall-style forum. It also mandated the municipality to have discussions with the people of Portmore on a four-year strategic business plan,” Thomas said.
Despite the challenges, both Campbell and Thomas expressed optimism that the staffing issues would be resolved through ongoing dialogue with government ministries and financial support from the Ministry of Local Government.