Beitbridge proposes $935 million 2021 budget
BEITBRIDGE Municipality has adopted at $935 million annual budget for 2021, which will see tariffs remaining unchanged based on its August supplementary budget. In August the local authority reviewed service charges and tariffs by 100 percent when it adopted a $95 million budget so that it could fund its commitments and address service delivery deficiencies.
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Agness Tore, said yesterday that council’s budget was prepared on a cost-recovery basis to provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient service to the municipality.
“This saw the Municipality maintaining the tariffs that were approved in August 2020 when SI 185 of 2020 was promulgated,” she said.
“Our tariffs are denominated in USD for stability, payable in USD, South African rand or RTGS at the prevailing interbank rate”.
The Deputy Mayor said in formulating the budget the local authority had taken into consideration its ability to continue offering services at cost-recovery basis, economic indicators and financial performance of council.
Other factors, she said, included the vulnerable groups’ ability to access basic services, the decline in formal employment and the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, Clr Tore said the 2021 budget was prepared in a Programme Based Budgeting (PBB) style to strengthen the linkage between funding and results, with a view to improving effectiveness and the efficiency of public expenditure.
“The proposed 2021 budget has been increased by $845 million in a bid to achieve the Smart city which is anchored on the Smart PRIDES agenda
“We are anticipating a total income of $935,466,153.28 and a total expenditure of $935,050,213.35 giving a surplus of $415,939.93. The surplus satisfies the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, Chapter 22.19 section 47(3) which remain of paramount importance on both budget formulation and implementation,” said the Deputy Mayor.
She said council will spend about $ 233,9 million on governance, and administration, $346 million on water, sanitation and hygiene, $240 million on social services, $53 million on roads, $61 million on public lighting, while security will chew $61 million.
Clr Tore added that some of the planned major capital projects included roads and stormwater drainage, stands servicing, bus terminus, Vhembe lab, paving of roads, public toilets, and flea markets at Mashavire and Mangavha.
The Deputy Mayor said council had committed funds on the construction of a new primary school, clinic, upgrading sewer reticulation facilities, public lighting at crime red zones, procurement of earth moving equipment and capacity building, staff training and job evaluation among others.
“We are also going to redevelop and renew the oldest part of Dulivhadzimu Township. This will be done in phases,” she said.
The town’s mayor, Cl Munyaradzi Chitsunge said it was important for residents to pay their bills for the local authority to be able to meet its obligations.
“We need to establish a relationship based on each party (council and ratepayers) meeting its side of the bargain, ratepayers paying for services and council delivering the services,” he said.
As at 20 September 2020 the local authority was owed $218 million by residents and various Government departments.-chronicle.o.zw
