10 Feb 2013

The South East District Council (SEDC) meeting on February 8 approved the P113. 9 million budget for the 2013/14 financial year with some reservations.

The budget estimates comprised of P99.9 million from government as the revenue support grant and about P14 million from the council coffers.

When presenting the budget, the council's chief finance and development planning officer, Ms Ntotang Swapo said the approved budget estimates was against the P146 .9 million that the council had budgeted for.

However, she said there had been an increase of the money allocated to the council over the years as they were given P77.7 million in 2011/12 and P98.5 million in the 2012/13 financial year, but noted that there was need for the council to device means of generating more income.

"The revenue support grant covers 88 per cent of the total budget which means the council depends more on the government," she added.

Ms Swapo said the district had proposed to raise an income amounting to P14 million in the coming financial year.

However, she said the income that the council had been making had increased over the years.

Furthermore, she pointed out that the district income depended mostly on interest on deposit and staff housing rentals.

Out of the proposed expenditure, Ms Swabo added that Tlokweng Sub-district would receive 29 per cent while Ramotswa would get the remaining 71 per cent.

"The district has considered the issue of old fleet which is off the road most of the time. Therefore the district has considered inclusion of replacement of cars to curb the situation," she added.

However, some councilors expressed disappointment on how the budget proposal had been handled, saying they had not been given an opportunity to contribute to the draft proposals.

Councillors who included Messrs Molemi Rankgomo, Mosinki Mpuang and Kgabo Mabotseng advocated for rejection of the proposed budget so that what they called proper consultation channels would be followed. ENDS