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This means council has again failed to comply with the Government’s directive of pegging remuneration at not more than 30 percent of revenue.
Presenting the budget proposals yesterday, finance committee chairperson Councillor Friday Muleya said they expected to raise US$272 million against projected expenditure of US$270 million.
The budget is supposed to be submitted to Government for approval by the end of next month.
Residents and ratepayers will continue paying the current tariffs.
If the budget is approved, residents in high-density suburbs will continue paying US$5 as fixed water charge for domestic use while those in low-density areas will pay the US$11.
The first 20 cubic metres of water will attract US25cents in high-density suburbs and US40 cents in low-density areas.
Water consumption above 100 cubic metres remains pegged at US$2 in both high and low-density areas.
Water for industrial and commercial use will be charged at US 80 cents per cubic metre, but will go up to US$1,20 for consumption above 100 cubic metres.
Clr Muleya said the budget will be financed by property tax (US$100 million), refuse collection (US$23 million), welfare (US$1 million), Zinara and billboards (US$8 million), city architect (US$1.4 million), clamping and towing (US$4 million) and health fees (US$9 million).
Housing and rentals, leased and markets are expected to contribute (US$10 million), water (US$112 million), parks and cemeteries (US$0.8 million) and US$3 million from others sources.
Clr Muleya said council will plug water leakages as a large number of residents were consuming water “freely” while millions of litres were lost.
“The rate at which the water debtors are growing requires that the city continue to evaluate the option of installing prepaid meters.
“A sum of US$3 million has been set aside for the procurement of water meters and meter replacement programmes will start in earnest in Mabvuku, Highfield and Mbare,” he said.
Monthly rentals for semi-detached houses will remain at US$29 while a terraced unit is US$23.
A four-roomed house will attract US$86.
Burial (US$175) and cremation (US$200) charges are unchanged.
Maternity fees are still pegged at US$25, a move that was welcomed by residents’ associations and councillors.
On salaries, Clr Muleya said: “The expenditure I have alluded to
above amounting to US$270 million is made up of salaries and allowances 41 percent, administration charges ( 9 percent), general expenses (30 percent), repairs and maintenance (13 percent), capital charges (3 percent) and finally revenue contribution to capital outlay (4 percent).”
However, Clr Jonathan Tavarwisa criticised the budget, saying it was a “standstill” one and more of a “salary budget”.
“We have got many areas that need massive recapitalisation such as Harare quarry, but at the end of the day you see a huge amount of money going to salaries,” he said.
Harare Residents Trust membership officer Mr Simbarashe Majamanda said the static tariffs were not a guarantee for improved services.
“This does not mean that service delivery would improve probably we are going down the drain because people have a tendency of not paying. Council should have consulted widely,” he said.
Online Reporter