Senior Political Reporter
Funding allocations for overtime payments to Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) daily-paid and monthly-paid workers have been reduced in the 2027 fiscal package. Allocations for contract employment within the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) have also been cut.
The figures are outlined in the 2027 Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of Statutory Boards, Similar Bodies and the THA, one of the documents tabled alongside the national Budget on Monday.
A summary of WASA’s income from 2025 to projected figures for 2027 shows a decline of approximately $282.8 million. The authority’s revenue was estimated at $2.7 billion in 2026 and revised upward to $3.081 billion, but is projected to fall to $2.799 billion in 2027.
WASA’s expenditure is also projected to decrease by about $287 million. Expenditure was estimated at $3.1 billion in 2026 and revised to $3.285 billion, before falling to a projected $2.998 billion in 2027. Reductions were recorded across all major personnel expenditure categories, including salaries and cost-of-living allowances (COLA), wages and COLA, overtime, and allowances for both daily-paid and monthly-paid employees.
Overall personnel expenditure at WASA is projected to decrease by $233.3 million, from a revised 2026 estimate of $602.8 million to $369.5 million in 2027. The largest reduction, $101.1 million, was recorded under salaries and COLA.
Funding for overtime payments to daily-paid workers was cut by $24.9 million, leaving an allocation of $15.3 million for the 2027 fiscal year. Overtime funding for monthly-paid workers was also reduced, falling by $13.8 million to $18 million in 2027.
At the THA, overall personnel expenditure is projected to increase by $373.3 million to $1.1 billion in 2027, up from $757.7 million in 2026 and a revised estimate of $819.2 million.
Despite the overall increase, several personnel-related line items recorded reductions totalling $249.4 million, including allocations for salaries, wages and overtime for daily-paid and monthly-paid workers. The largest decrease was under wages and COLA. Funding for THA contract employment was reduced by $8.6 million, with the 2027 allocation set at $251 million. This compares with $259 million in the 2026 estimates and a revised 2026 allocation of $264 million.
The Chief Secretary’s Office also recorded cuts in several areas. Funding for conferences, seminars and other functions was reduced by $2.78 million. The allocation for 2027 stands at $3 million, compared with a revised 2026 estimate of $5.7 million.
Funding for “Extraordinary Expenses” was reduced by $3.15 million. While the office received a revised allocation of $5.2 million in 2026, the 2027 estimate returns to $2.1 million. Reductions were also reflected across a number of other THA divisions.
Allocations for allowances paid to monthly-paid workers at the Port Authority, including employees in the engineering and wharves divisions, were reduced.
At the National Lotteries Control Board, funding for allowances for monthly-paid workers was cut by $39,966, while personnel expenditure at the Chaguaramas Development Authority was reduced by $708,000.
