HARARE —
The Harare City Council today announced a $370 million budget for 2014 indicating that the local authority will not increase service charges for local people.
Presenting the budget during a special council meeting, chairman of the finance and development committee, Alan Markham, said some tariffs would be reduced while others will remain static.
Some of the tariffs that will be reduced include charges for fixed water, flea market stalls and home industries. Ambulance, cremation and burials fees remain unchanged.
Markham, who is councilor for Borrowdale, said council expects to raise $274 million and the bulk of it will come from water, property tax and refuse collection charges.
He said salaries and allowances will chew up almost half of the budget.
Markham said council is making concerted efforts to meet the mandatory ratios for employment costs and recurrent expenditure required by the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry.
Of the total budget, $95.6 million has been set aside for capital projects such upgrading of water treatment works and road maintenance.
Markham expressed worry over paltry disbursements from the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority which in the current year generated $750,000 for the Harare City Council against estimated revenues of more than $15 million.
He said the successful implementation of the budget requires the co-operation of all stakeholders, including residents and ratepayers.
Council is owed $212 million in unpaid tariffs against a debt of $174 million.
The Ministry of Local Government is expected to table the budget within the next few days before approving it.
Presenting the budget during a special council meeting, chairman of the finance and development committee, Alan Markham, said some tariffs would be reduced while others will remain static.
Some of the tariffs that will be reduced include charges for fixed water, flea market stalls and home industries. Ambulance, cremation and burials fees remain unchanged.
Markham, who is councilor for Borrowdale, said council expects to raise $274 million and the bulk of it will come from water, property tax and refuse collection charges.
He said salaries and allowances will chew up almost half of the budget.
Markham said council is making concerted efforts to meet the mandatory ratios for employment costs and recurrent expenditure required by the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry.
Of the total budget, $95.6 million has been set aside for capital projects such upgrading of water treatment works and road maintenance.
Markham expressed worry over paltry disbursements from the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority which in the current year generated $750,000 for the Harare City Council against estimated revenues of more than $15 million.
He said the successful implementation of the budget requires the co-operation of all stakeholders, including residents and ratepayers.
Council is owed $212 million in unpaid tariffs against a debt of $174 million.
The Ministry of Local Government is expected to table the budget within the next few days before approving it.