LATEST THREADS
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
| 09-07-2008 | 02.00 pm | Grand Children's... |
| 09-08-2008 | 08.00 am | Curso Para La Fo... |
| 09-11-2008 | 07.00 pm | Trashion Fashion |
| 09-13-2008 | 09.00 am | Tamarindo Recycl... |
| 09-15-2008 | 10.00 am | Costa Rica's Ind... |
| Tamarindo Outraged Over Lack of Spending |
| Friday, 13 June 2008 | |
 (TBT) Tamarindo is receiving only a fraction of what it nets for the Santa Cruz canton annually, a municipal spending report revealed this week.While the popular tourist hub of Tamarindo pays about $1.2 million annually, only 11.5 per cent of these dues are reinvested into the town. Local officials were further outraged to discover the Municipality of Santa Cruz gives the town of Santa Barbara, home to Mayor Jorge Chavarría, more than.... ...$200,000 annually — even though the town pays only $20,000 in taxes each year. “I think people can jump to their own conclusions in this matter,” said a frustrated Federico Amador, Executive Director of the Asociación Pro Mejoras de Playa Tamarindo (APMT). “You just have to look at the numbers.” “For us as a community, it’s hard to see these numbers especially against all the effort we’ve been putting forth all these years — it all could have been made much easier,” he said. “We are absolutely fighting to try and collect for the roads, the lifeguards, to better the community; and we see these numbers and are asking, ‘Why isn’t the municipality paying for these?’” Mr Amador said town officials had their suspicions about the misspending, but were handed a document from the Financial Director of the Municipality showing what is happening. The canton had a $4 million budget in 2006, yet only spent $2 million, the rest of which went back into the State. “The same happened in 2007 and I think we’re on the same track this year,” said Mr Amador, adding the Association is asking for at least 75 per cent — about $850,000 — to be reinvested in Tamarindo.  Photo Save Tamarindo: Does the mayor Jorge Chavarría keep his word? In September of last year, the council voted to make Tamarindo a priority. This year the access road was paved at a cost of $231,000. The municipality paid $87,667, and the rest was paid by the private sector. “There were plans to continue with the sidewalks, signage and pedestrian accesses, as well as the paving of some alternate roads, but nothing has been done.” Tamarindo, however, is not the only town being neglected, argues Mr Amador, citing an argument he heard at last week’s municipal council meeting. “There was a lady from Portegolpe saying the roads down there aren’t even functioning, and that they’ve been suffering for this for two to three months; and no one is helping,” he said. “Even the people who should be the target for the municipality because they don’t have the resources aren’t being taken care of with this money.” Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
