Council sources say that this was not a one-time advance, but advances that have accumulated since 2001; however, Mr. Fonseca had repaid $15,000 in 2005, our sources continued.

When we questioned why Mayor Fonseca was, apparently, being singled out and whether other former council members had not also gotten advances, we were told that the second highest outstanding advance is $5,000, which is, comparatively, peanuts.

But Moya?s tale was not just about Fonseca?s salary advances. Her report given at the swearing-in today claims that the Belize City Council (BCC) is in financial quagmire?there are bills, bills and more bills and not enough money to pay them.

She outlined the other arrears as follows: $2 million for sanitation contracts for North and South side agents, and arrears of over $200,000 to the Alliance Bank.

According to Moya?s report, the BCC has three sanitation contracts and one garbage collection contract. In 2001, the Council contracted Sanitation Enterprises Limited (SEL) to collect garbage on the Northside. The BCC has to pay SEL roughly $2 million a year for that. In 2004, the Council gave contracts to SEL and Belize Maintenance Company (BMC) to clean the Southside at a cumulative cost of about $4 million a year. Belize Waste Control collects garbage for $1.3 million annually.

The next major expenses of the Council are bank loans, which were, notably, not taken to fund specific development projects, according to Moya?s report. The bulk of the debt is to a Glenn Godfrey affiliate, the Alliance Bank. Half a million dollars was gotten from the Alliance Bank ?to defray council expenses;? another $3.9 million from the same bank was ?to clear existing [bank] overdraft?; and $550,000 from Michael Ashcroft affiliate, the Belize Bank, was ?to pay off privatized workers? for SEL and BMC.

Of note is that the Belize Bank?s repayment is secured, since there is a deduction from the Council?s subvention, and Central Government repays the Belize Bank directly. $25,000 of the City?s $123,000 subvention?or about a fifth of the pie?goes to pay the bank.

Tallying all the Council?s expenses, the BCC expects more expenses than budgeted and fewer revenues than projected. A projected surplus of $2 million is now looking more like a deficit of about $9 million, according to today?s mayoral report.

Apparently the problem has not just been inside the Council, but also with taxpayers, who have not been forthcoming with their property tax payments. Now Moya is extending an offer to property owners of rebates as high as 10% of tax payments made by the end of the fiscal year, April 30. Senior citizens over age 65 can get discounts of up to 25%.

Moya reports that actual revenue collected for September to January was about 50% less than projected. Revenue collection efforts, she said, would be high on their agenda and, ?we are proposing at our first meeting that a resolution on the collection of revenue [be passed].?

Portfolios were today announced for Belize City councilors: Moya has budget, economic development, investment, human resources and coordinator for Central Government; Wayne Usher, deputy mayor, has sanitation, public health, environment, and HIV/AIDS; Laura Esquivel is liaison for NGO?s & civil society, public relations and community participation, parks, recreation and beautification; Mark King has crime, security, special constables, ambulance and fire services; Hyacinth Latchman has foreign relations and social services; Anthony Michael has works, streets, drains and urban development; Gilroy Middleton has city zoning, planning and project development, as well as after-school programs; Leila Peyrefitte has finance and markets; Calvert Quilter has small business initiatives and tourism; Dean Samuels has traffic and special events; and Philip Willoughby has youth, culture, sports and unions.

Also in attendance at today?s swearing in were elected officials of other municipalities, as well as party supporters and observers.

UDP Opposition Senator, Ambrose Tillett, who gave the opening remarks, told the new councilors: ?Let us be mindful that you are accountable to the people of Belize. Be humble and honest in their sight and even out of their sight? Do not undermine the trust of the people and don?t discriminate against the people you are serving.?

He pointed out that this is the first time in 16 years that the UDP controls Belize City and he highlighted great expectations among its residents, such as a city free from crime, poverty, bad streets, hunger and hopelessness.