St. Maarten’s 2027 Budget Bets on Owning, Not Renting

The draft budget sets aside 9 million guilders to start buying the buildings the government has long rented, the largest capital item in the General Affairs plan, as St. Maarten tries to trade rent checks for assets.

St. Maarten’s draft 2027 budget earmarks 9 million Caribbean guilders to begin purchasing government buildings, part of a shift away from renting offices from third parties, according to figures reported by The Daily Herald. Office rentals are budgeted at just over 16 million guilders for the year, and the purchase allocation is the largest single capital expenditure item listed for the Ministry of General Affairs.

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has argued that government should build a portfolio of assets that can stay under public ownership for future generations, rather than pay rent indefinitely. The capital plan also sets aside 2.339 million guilders to renovate government buildings, including the police station and the Government Administration Building.

The budget lands with a candid staffing picture. The Ministry of General Affairs reports an occupancy rate of 54%, with 236 of 439 positions filled and 144 vacancies that are not budgeted at all. Owning the buildings is the easier of the two problems. Filling them is the harder one.