19 Jun 2014

Kweneng District councilors say for the district projects and developments to be well budgeted for, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should give them longer periods for the preparation of the recurrent budget proposal for financial years.

Speaking at the recent opening of Kweneng full council meeting, where the 2015/2016 draft recurrent budget was presented, councillors said the reason why the proposal was being reviewed late was because of the limited time that they were granted.

The information showed that the dead line of recurrent budget proposal was on June 13, 2014 and by then it had not passed through all the relevant structures, as was the procedure.

The councilors pointed out that the ministry should grant them and other relevant stakeholders reasonable time if they had to present a well-researched budget.

Councilor Rex Motshweneng of Lephaleng Ward said a budget was the most imperative asset that contributed to the development of the country so it was important for it to be given enough preparation time.

He said by so doing he believed that they would be able to scrutinise and come up with a budget proposal that was accurate.

Councilor Bashi Kgakge of St Paul ward said the budget needed reasonable periods to be prepared since investigations should be conducted so that wise consensus and figures would be used.

He said it was important to engage the relevant departments for the projects in question pointing out that the departments knew their shortage and working closely would draw a practical budget proposal.

Meanwhile the chairperson of the council, Councilor Motlhophi Leo, said they had asked to submit the recurrent budget late since it had to be presented to the councilors and other stakeholders before it was submitted.

He also advised councilors that it was significant for them to critic the budget proposal so that they would be able know which parts to prioritize and which ones they would do without until the next financial year.

However the councilors approved the recurrent budget estimated at P544, 345,910.00. When presenting the proposal the Executive Financial Chairperson, Councilor Shima Monageng said, the budget has an increase of 52% over the 2014/2015 financial year of P358, 446,240.00.

He said some of the key considerations in the preparation of the budget were that the personnel emoluments to take into account of the 3% incremental creep on salaries, 4% baseline increase in salaries and allowances were factored into manpower budget.

Mr Monageng said the proposed budget may be cut due to the recession and they were hoping it would not be a big chunk.  ENDS