PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Martin Hassink told reporters on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that he met with the CFT recently to discuss the 2014 budget which his Ministry is busy preparing. Minister Hassink said that the CFT wants the Government of St. Maarten to have a balanced budget of up to Naf. 420 million. The Finance Minister further explained that the CFT warned government that they should prepare the 2014 budget with caution and they should not have more income that could not be realized.
Minister Hassink said he expects to submit the 2014 budget to the Council of Ministers in the coming weeks. He further stated that it would be quite challenging for government to balance its budget with the figures given to them by the CFT. He said the 2013 budget was at Naf. 440 million but they now have to cut another Naf. 20 million off for the 2014 budget which means his Ministry would have to propose some more cost cutting measures while finding ways to increase income. He said the deadline to have the 2014 budget approved by Parliament is December 15th, 2013.
Stiff Controls to Start on November 15th, 2013 --- Naf. 1.5 million in Road Tax not paid.
Minister Hassink also announced on Wednesday that up to the end of September 2013 some Naf. 1.5 million guilders were still outstanding in road tax payments. He said normally by the end of September government would collect about 85 Million guilders on the sale of road tax but that amount was lacking Naf. 1.5 million.
Finance Minister said that in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice stiffer road controls will be conducted by the police starting November 15th, 2013 to find the persons who have not yet paid their road taxes. The Finance Minister said persons that did not pay their road taxes for the year 2013 will have to pay the road tax as well as a Naf. 300 fine. He said the necessary legislation is being worked on to make it possible for the Naf. 300 fine to be imposed. The Minister has once again issued a strong call to vehicle owners to pay their road taxes to avoid the Naf. 300 fine.
