More than a billion rand budget for GTM
The Greater Tzaneen Municipality on Tuesday approved a preliminary budget of R1,045 billion for the 2015/2016 financial year.
The budget which is still to undergo a public participation process, is R111 million more than 2014/2015 financial year budget.
Mayor Dikeledi Mmetle said the increase is mainly due to the increase in service charges, and external grants from various spheres of government.
Mmetle said the total budget includes an amount of R288 million which represents the equitable share allocation to the Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
An amount of R 81,5 million will be levied by way of property tax and R485 million will be sourced from user charges.
The national allocation to fund operational activities amount to R4,4 million which includes the Finance Management Grant of R1,6 million, the Municipal Systems Improvement Grant of R930 000 and the Expanded Public Works Programme Grant of R1,8 million.
R273 million of the budget is to be set aside for salaries, R135 million for repairs and maintenance and R307 million for the purchase of bulk electricity and water.
In the coming financial year, the municipality will grant an amount of R5,5 million to the Greater Tzaneen Development Agency.
The amount represents a decrease of R1 million on the 2014/2015 annual budget.
The coming financial year will see Rita to Mariveni Road been upgrading from gravel to tar at a cost of R25,7 million.
The municipality has budgeted R31,4 million for Morutji to Matswi road to be upgraded from gravel to tar.
An amount of R22,9 million will be allocated for upgrading Tickyline to Mafarana road.
Relela Community Hall will receive an allocation to the amount of R9, 2 million. The upgrading of Runnymede Cluster Sports Facility will have a budget of R4,5 million. An amount of R4,5 million will be set aside for Project Management Unit.
The Mayor Special Account will receive R300 000 for the running of the mayoral office while an amount of R800 0000 will also be set aside for the Mayors Bursary Account.
“This bursary scheme has helped almost over 200 learners’ access tertiary education since its inception.
We will continue to lobby for an increase in funding to reach even more previously disadvantaged youth of our municipality,” said Mmetle.
The leader of the Democratic Alliance in the municipality, Councillor Rene Pohl said the official opposition support the preliminary budget particularly the percentage for repairs and maintenance which is 17% of the total amount.
Pohl commended the finance department officials for working diligently to prepare the budget.
