adminMidlands Bureau Chief
THE commission running the affairs of Gweru City Council has cut the local authority’s salary expenditure by about 54 percent. Commissioner Mark Choga, who is the chairperson of finance, said they had managed to reduce the salary outlay from 86 percent to 31,9 percent since taking over the running of the cash strapped local authority three months ago.
Choga said it was the government’s directive that local authorities should cut salaries and allowances to not more than 30 percent of revenue collected and allocate at least 70 percent to service delivery.
Gweru’s wage bill stood at about $888,000 per month, which was about 72 percent of its monthly income.
The local authority has a 1,300-strong workforce.
“The ministry requires 30 percent of the total income to be spent on salaries and the remaining 70 percent to go towards service delivery,” he said.
Choga said efforts are being made to clear the remaining 1,9 percent so that the local authority will remain with the required 30 percent meant for salaries.
“We want the remaining 1,9 percent to go where it belongs so that our operations run smoothly because we don’t want any trouble with our parent ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, the commission has vowed to maintain the proposed 2015 budget of $31 million for the coming financial year.
Commission chairperson Tsungai Mhangami said they were not increasing the budget after considering the plight of rate payers.
“We’re maintaining the $31 million budget for 2016. We might not all agree with the budget and its normal in any democratic society,” he said.
Last year, suspended Mayor, Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi and his council worked with a $31,8 million budget, which saw rates being hiked by 35 percent.
The budget saw water charges increase from 60 cents per cubic meter to 80c per cubic meter among other service charges that were increased.
Online Reporter