03 Feb 2014

The North East District Council has given the proposed budget for the 2014/15 financial year a green light.

Councillors unanimously agreed on the over P133 million proposed budget at a special full council meeting held on January 30. Commenting on the proposed budget, Cllr Saul Duha of Mosojane hailed the finance committee for the sterling work it has done in drawing up the budget.

He expressed happiness at the decision to budget for the purchase of a bus for the special education unit at Moroka Primary School, saying because the disabled pupils at the school were a crucial part of the society, it was only right that they are taken care of.

Cllr Khazi Motswakae of Zwenshambe asked why councillors’ tours had not been included in the budget. Cllr Ndinani Makhulela, nominated, observed that the responsible committee ought to have budgeted for exit workshops on financial and personal management for councillors as they would be reaching the end of their tenure of office in October.

She pleaded for the efficient use of the maintenance vote, noting that it would be a sad story for the funds to remain unused at the end of the financial year while council property remained dilapidated. Ms Makhulela noted that the committee should have briefed the house on the progress made on the milestones the council had set for itself for the year 2013/14.

When presenting the proposed budget, the chairperson of the finance committee, Cllr Damien Thapa said the 2014/15 budget increased by P13.5 million from last year’s P119.5 million. Of the total, P112.5 million would come from government’s revenue support grant while the remaining P7 million would be from the council’s own sources of revenue.

He said the increase would cater for, among others, councillors’ terminal benefits as their term of office would be ending this year. Cllr Thapa, who is also the councillor for Makaleng ward, said the budget also catered for the increase in bills for lighting and water, among others; adding that funds for maintenance had also shown an increase.

Among the facilities earmarked to undergo maintenance are the Rural Administration Centre, primary schools, staff houses as well as the Social and Community Development (S&CD) facilities. He stated that there was a decrease in funds needed for the purchase of stationery following the transfer of the purchase of school books to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development.

Cllr Thapa pleaded with councillors and council staff for the prudent use of funds in the coming financial year. ENDS