Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
BULAWAYO residents could be asked to cough more in rates and rentals next year as the local authority is proposing a review of certain levies together with the introduction of special roads and water levies.
This came out during the 2025 budget proposal consultations taking place around the city’s 29 wards.
On top of the increase of rates the local authority is further proposing the removal of the monthly free water allocation to residents.
Currently, residents are getting 3 000 litres free water allocation after it was reduced in June by 40 percent from 4 000 which had been prevailing for years.
According to the proposed budget, the local authority is proposing a budget of US$308 million for 2025 which is an increase from this year’s US$264 million.
Of the proposed budget, US$227 million is the revenue budget while US$81 million is the capital budget.
The local authority in its proposed expenditure budget envisage an increase in salaries allocation from US$80,1 million to US$108,7 million. The council will, however, be setting itself on a collision course with the Government, as this proposed allocation will represent 35 percent of the entire budget.
The Government stipulated ratio is 70 percent service delivery to 30 percent salaries.
General expenses are being proposed to increase from US$59,8 million to US$70,1 million, repairs from US$3,5 million to US$10,1 million and the proposed maintenance budget is expected to increase from US$23,9 million to US$37,7 million.
In terms of income the local authority is proposing to make a huge chunk of its money from water rates which will provide 25 percent of the budget at US$78,2 million.
To further support the proposed budget, the local authority is proposing to stop the free allocation of water, which will give it an envisaged total of US$6,5 million.
“Continued low rainfall patterns raise the logic of free water during tight water rationing and shedding. Projected Additional Income of US$6,5 million. Council is also proposing to levy US$1 per domestic property per month in a special water levy and US$10 per commercial property per month. This is to raise funding for water infrastructure rehabilitation. Funds to be ring fenced. Projected Receipts for fund US$2,22 million,” reads part of the presentation.
The local authority is also proposing a special roads levy which will be implemented similarly to the special water levy.
BCC is also proposing to increase administration costs for graves in the city where it revealed that while it was currently charging between US$40 and US$60 per grave, the cost for maintaining a single grave in the city was US$625.
The local authority also plans to continuously review Administration Fees and maintain them at Cost Recovery levels so as to ensure cost recovery for critical services
BCC will also work on speeding implementation of Special Economic Zone programme through getting the necessary approvals from the SEZ Authority and also identifying and developing new economic partnerships through exploring new twinning arrangements with other cities.
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