Belize City Featured in Commonwealth Study on Infrastructure Financing

Belize City has been selected as one of three case studies featured in a Commonwealth study examining how local governments finance infrastructure and essential services.  The study examined fiscal administration, municipal financing and Belize City’s Municipal Bond Programme.  Just last Wednesday, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner participated in a webinar titled, “The Urban Finance Gap: Practical Pathways for Local Government Finance across the Commonwealth.”  During the discussion, Wagner said securing funding to construct infrastructure represents only part of the challenge facing local governments. He noted that street, drainage and other projects must also be supported by adequate financing for their operation, maintenance and eventual replacement.  The Yarborough Pumping Station was cited as an example. While the facility has helped to drain waterways during periods of flooding, its continued operation and maintenance create recurring expenses for the Belize City Council.  The discussion also examined the need for sustainable municipal-financing frameworks, greater decentralization and increased access to funding for capable local governments.  The Council says Belize City’s inclusion in the study provides an opportunity to share its experiences with other Commonwealth jurisdictions while contributing to wider discussions on infrastructure financing and urban resilience.  Belize City was featured alongside Kerala State in India and Kigali, Rwanda, in research presented by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.