The Beit Bridge Rural District Council has unveiled a US$ 2.5 million budget for next year, which will see some rates and tariffs rising by 5%. This is in line with the prevailing inflation levels.

The proposed budget was unanimously adopted by the 15 ward councillors during a recent full council meeting.

In an interview with Limpopo Mirror last week, the council’s chief executive officer, Mr Albert Mbedzi, said the bulk of the budget would go towards financing major capital projects. This will include the servicing of 400 residential stands at the Lutumba Business Centre. “We have approved a $2.5 million budget and the capital expenditure is $1.029 million, which translates to 41% of the total expenditure. We want to install water pipes and septic tanks for sewerage at Lutumba and the construction of roads at a cost of US$589 660. The rehabilitating of roads and bridges would require at least US$88 853," he added.

“Most of our roads are in a bad state and we intend to rehabilitate them. We have set aside US$257 693 for the rehabilitation of boreholes, schools, clinics and community halls, while repairs and routine maintenance  work would see us forking out US$ 292 381,” he said.

Mbedzi also mentioned said they would increase the disbursement of the Campfire proceeds from this year’s US$81 516 to US$121 200. The total anticipated income of the council is $ 2 535 423.

He added that the planned total expenditure would be financed by US$1 546 710 from local revenue, US$ 438 713 from government grants, while the remaining US$550 000 will be utilised from the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) fund.

The staff salaries constitute 24% of the total expenditure.