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Yeuaki Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Chitungwiza Municipality has proposed to increase its 2019 budget to $51,15 million from $28,3 million due to a large number of homes that it is expecting to regularise next year. Chitungwiza finance director Mrs Evangelista Machona said the budget increase will not affect tariffs.
“We are proposing that we maintain our tariffs at the same levels. However, our budget has increased from $28,3 million to $51,15 million because we have intensified revenue collection from both the formal and informal sources,” she said.
Mrs Machona said they increased the regularisation fee from $1 000 to $2 250.
“We decided to increase the penalty for illegal settlers from $1 000 to $2 250 because these people were enjoying council services for free.
‘‘For next year we are targeting to regularise at least 7 500 properties,” she said.
Council also expected to receive a total grant of $7,2 million, of which $1,88 million was coming from Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), $3,3 million from the 5 percent constitutional provision grant for sewage works and $2 million from Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) for roads.
The budget has since been adopted by council and has been submitted to Government for approval.
Presenting the proposed budget during a special council meeting held last week Finance Committee chairman Councillor Peter Matiringe said the budget was aimed at enhancing service delivery.
“We have moved away from line budgeting to programme based budget using Performance Improved Plans (PIPs) in line with the parent ministry’s thrust to ensure resources are channelled towards programmes that enhance service delivery,” he said.
Cllr Matiringe said employment costs were expected to increase from $7,5 million to $11,14 million.
“Employment cost is expected to increase due to a court judgement which ruled that Council revert to salaries that prevailed before 2014 and the reintroduction of employees’ medical aid and insurances schemes.
“Current water charges are subject to changes, given that they are largely dependent on the tariff regime of the supplying water authority City of Harare,” he said.
He said from January to October revenue collection was $10,52 millionagainst the budgeted $28,3 million which translates to 44 percent only.
“In an effort to improve revenue collection, council will intensify its engagement with ratepayers through ward based meetings interacting with various stakeholders,” said Cllr Matiringe.
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