22 Jul 2018

Francistown City Council has appoved a proposed budget of P284 107 200 for the financial year 2019/2020.

Presenting the proposed budget during a special full council meeting in Francistown last week, finance committee chairperson, Ms Zibanani Benifield said due to provided guidelines, the council was expected to prioritise its financial requirements for the year 2019/2020.

Ms Benifield said the council’s top priorities included maintenance of facilities such as classrooms, staff housing, roads and offices, provision for vulnerable communities such as destitute persons and people living with disabilities, provision of education requirements at primary schools and provision for high utility bills.

In addition, the proposed budget catered for emergencies such as prepaid electricity for streetlights, terminal benefits of councillors as well as running costs for Ipelegeng.

She further stated that in order to finance the budget, the council proposed to raise P39 729 150 from its own sources of revenue.

Commenting on the issue, Councillor for Ipopeng Ward, Mr Jenamiso Mojaki urged council officials to re-double their efforts  in collecting debts owed to the council in order to help add to what the ministry would allocate them.

Councillor for Somerset East, Mr Joe Gunda said it was upon councillors to encourage residents to pay debts owed to the council.

Kanana Ward councillor, Mr Cornelius Gopolang said the council should have a cost reduction plan to guard against misuse of funds .

Itekeng Ward councillor, Mr Lesego Kwambala called for the reviewing of revenue collection processes to establish if they doid not hinder revenue collection from stakeholders.

He further suggested that in future, key stakeholders such as the business community be involved in the budgeting process. ENDS