OFFICIALS at the City of uMhlathuze have been warned to curb over-expenditure and reduce unbudgeted spending in this financial year.
This comes after a financial report for the quarter ending 30 September showed that while the liquidity situation at the municipality was improving, expenditure had to take place in accordance with the approved budget.
According to the report which served before Council, over-expenditure in the Corporate Services Department was as a result of overtime worked when delivering agendas to Councillors at night and during weekends.
However, Deputy Mayor Vera Gumbi said Councillors received their agendas late because report writers did not submit their documents on time.
‘This means that they are not doing their jobs properly and on time. When administration sends so many reminders, it is worrying because these people are earning a lot of money. As Heads of Department, this must be taken very seriously,’ Gumbi said.
The administration bill as at September stood at R120 782 with over expenditure amounting to R104 532. Printing and photocopying overheads amounted to R14 082 as at September with surplus spending standing at R3 582.
‘Council has taken the decision to go digital, so why is there overtime for printing and photocopying?’ asked Cllr MM Mbokazi.
Deliver agendas
The agendas for the Executive Committee, Council and respective committees are normally delivered on Fridays. However with staff finishing at about 7.30pm, officials said it was impossible to deliver the agendas on the same night.
Cllr Meera Sookroo said agendas should be delivered by the latest on Thursdays and not on Saturdays. Councillors agreed that there needed to be a cut-off period for reports to avoid staff having to work at night.
‘If expenditure does not take place in accordance with the approved budget, the objective of attempting to create internal reserves for future capital expenditure from accumulated cash reserves is not going to materialise,’ CFO Mxolisi Kunene said in the report.
Cllr Beena Simmadhri said it was also a concern that over-expenditure on subsistence and travelling was increasing at an alarming rate annually.
