Trimmed city budget likely to be $1.7B Three employees dismissed in money probe Stabroek News April 19, 2000 The Georgetown City Council's budget for year 2000 is to be presented at a meeting of the full council tomorrow by Deputy Mayor and Finance Committee chairman, Robert Williams. The document is not expected to include any new taxes but increases are likely in what has been described as "traditional fees". Williams will explain to councillors how the original budget of $2.5 billion has had to be trimmed to $1.7 billion. The reductions will affect some members of the municipal work force, capital works, equipment and vehicles, but the council is to continue renting vehicles and day care centres have been spared. Meanwhile, Stabroek News has learnt that three female employees in the city treasurer's department have been sent home. According to reports, a scam has come to light involving a supervisor in the tax collection department, a cashier and another clerk in the same office. The amount of money which cannot be accounted for is said to be in the vicinity of a quarter million dollars. Investigations by the city treasurer are continuing. The three employees reportedly all accepted guilt and have promised to make restitution for the missing cash which was paid over to them by taxpayers recently. The dismissed employees have been working with the City Council for a total of some 20 years. (Cecil Griffith)