23 Feb 2014

Central district councilors have approved the council’s 2014/2015 budget albeit different views.

Speaking during a special full council meeting in Serowe on Friday, February 21, other councilors said the budget needs a lot of improvement, adding that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was not fair to the council when it comes to its budget. Some councilors, amongst them councilor Solomon Dikgang of Tidimalo Ward in Serowe felt that the budgeting process of the Central district was outdated.

Mr Dikgang said the system dates back to when the country gained independence. He advised that the budgeting system should be improved to be in line with modern day life as the council was designed to take care of communities’ welfare.

For his part, councilors Charles Mabyeng of Lecheng Ward in Tswapong North said he did not approve of the budget, as it was not a true representative of what they had requested. Sharing the same sentiments like Mr Dikgang, Mr Mabyeng said there was nothing new on the budget. He argued that it did not sit well with their communities because they felt they were not represented well at the council.

Earlier, when presenting the budget, the chairman of the finance committee, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi said from the original over P840 million, the approved ceiling for the next financial year was P681 million. Mr Ramogapi said the ministry could not meet their request; hence they were given a revenue support grant ceiling that was below the requirement originally submitted.

He said after much concerted effort they managed to come up with the ceiling given to them and came up a balanced budget even though departments had to forgo a lot of necessities. However, Mr Ramogapi applauded councilors for approving the budget and appealed for more cooperation by all going forward. ENDS