Sint Maarten News, September 2026: 2027 Budget, Visitor Levy, Hospital Delay and French-Side Tax Reform

Sint Maarten's Parliament opened the debate on the 2027 budget this week, with a projected Cg 8 million surplus and a visitor levy still targeted for January 2027. Across the island, the new hospital's move date is slipping toward late 2027, the traffic problem has reached the Minister's desk, and the French side has voted its revised 2026 budget and put tax reform on the table. Here is the Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin news that matters for owners and investors, from the last four weeks.

What happened

1. The 2027 budget: a small surplus, and a warning from the watchdog

On September 28, Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs presented a draft 2027 budget with about Cg 670 million in revenue against Cg 662 million in spending, a Cg 8 million surplus on ordinary service. The financial supervisor (Cft) said the draft does not yet meet the balance standard and pointed to about Cg 145 million in payment arrears. The Minister also flagged utility company GEBE's rising unpaid receivables, and a 2024 profit drop tied to emergency repairs and leased extra generation, as budget risks (SMN News, September 28).

Why it matters: a tight budget usually means new fees and stricter tax collection before it means cuts, and GEBE's finances sit behind the power reliability every owner cares about.

2. Visitor levy targeted for January 2027

The Minister confirmed the visitor levy is still targeted for January 2027, with the draft law being revised before it goes to the Council of Advice. No final amount has been published in the current draft; an earlier 2025 version set US$15 per adult (SMN News, August 26, updated September 1; The People's Tribune, August 2025).

Why it matters: it adds a small cost to every stay. Owners who rent should watch how it is collected, at the airport or through accommodation.

3. Cg 222 million for public investment, including a digital permit system

The draft budget allocates about Cg 222 million to capital projects, including carry-overs: Cg 27.3 million for a new tax office, Cg 9 million for roads and Cg 2.2 million for a digital building-permit system (SMN News, September 28). The Cft asked for a realistic schedule of when projects will actually start and finish.

Why it matters: permit delays are one of the most common complaints we hear from owners who renovate or build. A digital system would help, if it is delivered.

4. Traffic: permit audit, and a causeway toll idea

Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten (TEATT) said on September 28 that of more than 600 taxi permits, 399 operators are confirmed compliant, and about 120 of some 300 bus permits. Permits unused for six months or more may be revoked, and a temporary moratorium on vehicle imports is being studied, with results due by early December. The same day, MP Francisco Lacroes suggested a 25 or 50 cent toll on the Simpson Bay Causeway; it is a proposal, not a decision.

Why it matters: traffic between Simpson Bay, Cole Bay and Philipsburg is the first thing guests mention. Any real improvement supports rental reviews and location values.

5. New hospital: training has started, the move date is slipping

St. Maarten Medical Center opened a simulation training suite on September 15 to prepare staff for the new St. Maarten General Hospital: 104 beds, four operating theatres, MRI and a helipad. The move had been planned for July to August 2027, but Parliament's health committee was told in August that it could slip to December 2027 (SMN News, August 17; 721 News, September 15).

Why it matters: healthcare is a deciding factor for retirees and part-year residents. A modern hospital on the island changes that conversation.

6. French side: revised budget and a tax reform framework

The Territorial Council of Saint-Martin met on September 10 and voted the 2026 supplementary budget (15 for, 4 against, 3 abstentions), reporting a 2025 operating surplus of about 35.9 million euros. The agenda also included a framework for tax reform with an ad hoc commission to steer it, and land purchases by the public land agency Terres Caraïbes in Sandy Ground and Beauperthuy (Le Pélican; SMN News, September 2026).

Why it matters: Saint-Martin has its own tax code. Any reform can touch the taxes owners pay; no specific measure has been published yet.

Our read

None of this changes the case for owning on the island this season. The practical points: budget pressure on the Dutch side points toward new fees, starting with the visitor levy; the hospital is real but later than hoped; and the French side's tax reform deserves watching before anyone signs a compromis in 2027. We will report on each as decisions are made. If you are weighing a purchase now, our current listings show what is available on both sides.

Sources: SMN News (August 17, August 26, September 10 and September 28, 2026); The Daily Herald and The People's Tribune via SXM Talks (September 28–29, 2026); 721 News (September 15, 2026); Le Pélican (September 10, 2026); The People's Tribune (August 25, 2025). Amounts in Cg are Caribbean guilders, pegged to the US dollar.

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