Every year when the time comes to pay motor vehicle tax people wonder what happens with the money, also considering the state of St. Maarten streets. While persistent rains are now mainly to blame, huge and potentially hazardous potholes have again appeared left and right including in some quite familiar places.
Readers can do the math, as 33,847 sets of number plates were ordered, while the annual levies for “regular” cars are NAf. 275 and NAf. 750 (diesel engine), for buses and taxis NAf. 275 and NAf 550 (diesel), for rentals NAf. 300 and NAf. 750 (diesel), for heavy vehicles over 3,500 kilograms NAf. 1,250 (all engines), for motorcycles NAf. 200 and for mopeds (scooters) NAf. 50. In addition, the 32,947 pair of plates purchased for cars will cost NAf. 12.50 each and another 900 for motorbikes NAf. 7.50.
Suffice to say that it regards many millions. However, despite much talk about this issue and a so-called Road Fund during the past decades, in practice these earnings still end up among general means in the national treasury.
Mind you, funds are of course made available on the budget for infrastructural maintenance and projects. However, there is no direct correlation between motor vehicle tax and quality of the public road network.
The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI is obviously working with limited resources and most recent weather conditions haven’t exactly been helpful. Nevertheless, keeping traffic moving as smoothly as possible is also very important to the local economy especially during the high season.
As would be the case with tourism promotion and room tax, truly reserving – part of – the related income specifically for roads and street furniture ensures a certain continuity no matter what other priorities may exist. It shows commitment.
