$323M BUDGET: Gov’t reveals road, environment fee

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr D Orlando Smith has announced a $323.1 million budget, adding that there will be new fees including an environmental fee to be charged when leaving airport, a cruising fee, and a road maintenance fee.

“We are forecasted to collect revenues over the course of this year. We project to raise some $277,374,631 for operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, in elaborating on the new fees, Premier Smith stated that the ‘small’ transportation maintenance fee is to be charged when licensing vehicles.

He added that it is being implemented to ‘assist in offsetting the cost to maintain our roads’. “We expect to realize abut $170,000 from this in 2017,” Premier Smith said during his budget speech today, January 16.

He further stated that the cruising permit fees will see a ‘modest’ increase.

Premier Smith told the House of Assembly that an environmental levy will also be collected at the port of entry, adding that it is meant to ensure the ‘protection and management’ of the environment. From this tax, Government hopes to raise $1.5 million.

The territory’s leader also said his government expects to rake in $3.6 million from improved water billings that will be facilitated through the installation of improved water meters throughout the territory.

More later.