Linden Town Council proposes 50% reduction in commercial tolls in talks with Government

Faced with a financial crisis following the Government’s decision to remove the toll charged to commercial vehicles entering the town of Linden, the Linden Town Council has proposed a 50% reduction in the tolls as it fights to get one of the town’s main revenue streams re-instituted.

Mayor of Linden, Dominique Blair and a team from the Town Council met and held discussions with President Irfaan Ali and a Government team.

In a joint statement after the meeting, it was noted that during the Government’s outreach in the town, it received strong representation from Lindeners and the private sector about the cost of conducting business in the town of Linden brought about by the toll charges.

The Local Government Minister’s instruction to discontinue the collection of the toll was handed down before the Government’s outreach and there was never any discussion or consultation with the Linden Town Council about that decision.

But in the joint statement issued today, the Government and the Town Council said during the discussions between them, the Town Council proposed a 50% reduction in the tolls that were previously being charged.

The tolls have been in place since 2016 and the fees charged have remained the same, but it was noted that an adjustment would not negatively affect the cash flow to the Linden Town Council nor put any additional burdens on the private sector.

Under the toll structure, which was revoked, the highest fee paid was $7,000 and that would be for trucks transporting 40-ft containers and haulers with machines.

Large trucks transporting goods into the town paid a fee of $4,000 and large trucks transporting timber logs or scrap iron paid a fee of $5,000.

Canter trucks with goods for sale paid a fee of $3,000 and $4,000 depending on the size, while mini-buses with goods for sale paid a fee of $2,800.

On average, a truck transporting over $5million and more in goods paid a fee of $5,000.

The Government said it is committed to reviewing the new proposal from the Linden Town Council as well as working to having a full and complete understanding of the revenue and expenditure of the Linden Municipality.

The joint statement said it was also established that the audited financial statements of the Linden Town Council are in significant backlog and has to be corrected.

“There will be an examination to arrive at a clear understanding of revenue and expenditure as the LTC was not in a position to pronounce on verifiable finances,” the statement said.

Just last week, the Mayor of Linden complained about the Government first removing the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge toll last year without putting a system in place to fill the gap left by the removal of the toll. The municipality earned just over $70 million annually from the bridge toll. The commercial toll, which was revoked by the Government this past week, earned the town an annual income of just over $100 million.

The municipality has said that with $170 million removed from its annual earnings, its already strained finances will be further hit.

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