Umdoni approves ‘people-centred budget’
The new fiscal year’s budget, commencing on July 1, is marked at R502m with an allocation of R50m to the capital budget and an operational budget of R452m.
The Umdoni Council has approved the municipality’s half a billion rand budget for the 2024/25 fiscal year for the implementation of service delivery projects aimed to grow, protect and enrich the area.
The new fiscal year’s budget, commencing on July 1, is marked at R502m with an allocation of R50m to the capital budget and an operational budget of R452m.
“The municipal budget seeks to strike a balance between ongoing service delivery imperatives of infrastructure development, refuse collection and verge maintenance, among others, while also expeditiously responding to maintenance and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure,” explained Sphelele Cele, Umdoni communications manager.
The budget was presented last Wednesday, and Mayor Mbali Cele-Luthuli emphasised that this is a ‘people-centred budget’ tailor-made to focus on the core municipal functions.
“It is of fundamental importance to maintain our existing assets as infrastructure is the foundation of our economic development,” said the Mayor.
She added that assets that are not maintained can lead to degradation, thus having a negative effect on the economy. “The development of infrastructure brings about good change in our communities. It is for that reason that this municipality has placed community development at the apex of its priorities.”
There are plans for the construction of three community halls in Wards 2, 4 and 7, the refurbishment of KwaDumisa Community and Skills Centre in Ward 5, and the implementation of the second phase of construction of Umzinto Sports Field in Ward 13.
The municipality has set aside R20m, which will be a 50% split between urban and rural roads. Major rehabilitation work is set to be implemented in Ward 10 on Court Road and Gardner Street. Budgets of R7.5m and R2.4m have been allocated for Court Road and Gardner Street, respectively. Ward 16 has also been allocated a budget of R7.2m for the construction of Nsongeni Tar Road.
The long-awaited electrification of Kiss Kiss and Mbetheni areas have also been approved. A grant allocation of R11.4m will ensure the electrification of 169 households in these two communities.
Municipal property rates will increase by 5%, refuse collection services by 7%, and all other tariffs are to increase by 5%.
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