Town Councils Heavily Indebted to S.S.B.

With elections four weeks away, all eyes are how town councils have been performing in the different municipalities.  Today, News Five learnt that at least three councils are heavily indebted to the Social Security Board for unpaid contributions on behalf of staff members.  According to the information provided to the Board of Directors of S.S.B., the San Ignacio Town Council owes just under fifty-thousand dollars, at forty-nine thousand nine hundred and seventy-two dollars and ten cents in contributions for the period October 2014 to January 2017.  Closely behind is the Benque Viejo Town Council with forty-five thousand two hundred and eighty-six dollars and eighty cents not paid on behalf of employees for October 2014 to January 2017.  Then, there is the Punta Gorda Town Council which owes thirty-eight thousand one hundred and fifty-two dollars and eighty cents from March to December 2017.  This afternoon, we reached out to the S.S.B. Compliance Officer, Carlton Mckoy. He told us he would not verify the information so we started calling the different councils. The Punta Gorda Mayor Fern Gutierrez confirmed late this evening that the Council is working on a payment plan using subventions to pay off the debt. Gutierrez also said that council employees are still covered with S.S.B. benefits.  The Mayor of San Ignacio, Earl Trapp also says that the council’s subvention has been used to clear the debt.