Belize City Council Biting the Bullet to Make Ends Meet

The end of the year is quickly approaching and so is crunch time. At City Hall, Mayor Bernard Wagner says he is biting the bullet and will not be offering discounts to residents for taxes or licenses because sooner or later, bills will have to be paid. Today, he told the media that he has been cutting corners to make ends meet.

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“Hard times are here during this period and we are close to the end of that period and we have bite that bullet deliberately because we know that you can’t eat out all of your money and give a twenty percent discount. It does not work. At the end of the day you are eating away at your revenue streams down the road. You might enjoy it now but you will feel it later on down the road.”

Bernard Wagner

Reporter

“I am saying that is how councils in the past would bridge this dry period, this financial drought of this time of the year.”

Bernard Wagner

“Our council has been able to survive without one cent from the government. And you know how we have done that? Cutting out wastage. We have also brought in the legal arm of the council which is those people who are delinquent in property taxes are now being pursued to the full extent of the law.”