Gaborone City Council (GCC) continues to struggle in its endeavour to collect revenue, Mayor Austin Abraham has said.
At the end of May 2023, the Council’s total expenditure stands at P67,757,873.93, translating to 14.8 percent of the budget, while the total collection stands at P77, 432, 118.92, which is 16.9 percent of the budget.
Abraham told a full council meeting that they will continue monitoring expenditure and revenue collection through structures such as the Finance and General-Purpose Committee. He said they will focus on major components of the recurrent budgets, such as property Rates, Advertising Signs, ground leases and parking fees.
“Revenue collection remains a challenge. This leads to serious cash flow problems since oftentimes expenditure exceeds income. This means that we end up not being able to deliver on some of the activities that would have been planned.
“I wish to beseech the Finance and General-Purpose Committee to formulate and implement strategies to increase the revenue base and accelerate collection,” Abraham said, also pleading with the community of Gaborone to come forth and pay the property Rates and service levies.
He revealed that Rates contribute about 25 percent of the recurrent budget, and these funds, if collected, can contribute significantly to the development of the City. The mayor appealed to the media to help disseminate information on the need to comply in terms of paying for public goods and services.
“In the month of March 2023, Full Council approved the 2023/24 recurrent budget amounting to P457,795,440. This consists of P153,161,470 being collection from own sources and P304,633,970 being Revenue Support Grant (RSG). This year’s budget represents a significant increase of 18 percent from the 2022/23 financial year budget of P387, 011,910,” the mayor said.
He told the councillors that in the last financial year, funds amounting to P20 million were approved through the Development budget to augment road maintenance budgets.
“I would like to indicate that the asphalt overlay along selected portions of Marapoathutlwa road in Block 10, Litabi Way in Block 6, Mafukutswe Road and Mmaraka roads commenced on the 14th of April 2023 and is expected to be complete by October 2023.
“The project has been financed to the tune of P14.7 million. However, it should be noted that the remaining P5 million was allocated for the construction of the storm water drain project,” he said.
Abraham revealed that pothole patching continues, and noticeable improvements have been realised. He said at the end of May 2023, 68.8 percent of the potholes have been repaired, adding that works are still ongoing on the remaining
roads, and that they to expedite implementation.
“I must reiterate the Government’s decision that the 2023/24 CCP funds will exclusively focus on the maintenance of internal roads. The projects that will be implemented under this programme include; asphalt overlay, chip seal, paving and pothole patching across all constituencies.
“Council will engage local artisans, local plant and machinery and labour for the implementation of these projects, and this will contribute to employment creation in the city.”
At the end of May 2023, the Council’s total expenditure stands at P67,757,873.93, translating to 14.8 percent of the budget, while the total collection stands at P77, 432, 118.92, which is 16.9 percent of the budget.
Abraham told a full council meeting that they will continue monitoring expenditure and revenue collection through structures such as the Finance and General-Purpose Committee. He said they will focus on major components of the recurrent budgets, such as property Rates, Advertising Signs, ground leases and parking fees.
“Revenue collection remains a challenge. This leads to serious cash flow problems since oftentimes expenditure exceeds income. This means that we end up not being able to deliver on some of the activities that would have been planned.
“I wish to beseech the Finance and General-Purpose Committee to formulate and implement strategies to increase the revenue base and accelerate collection,” Abraham said, also pleading with the community of Gaborone to come forth and pay the property Rates and service levies.
He revealed that Rates contribute about 25 percent of the recurrent budget, and these funds, if collected, can contribute significantly to the development of the City. The mayor appealed to the media to help disseminate information on the need to comply in terms of paying for public goods and services.
“In the month of March 2023, Full Council approved the 2023/24 recurrent budget amounting to P457,795,440. This consists of P153,161,470 being collection from own sources and P304,633,970 being Revenue Support Grant (RSG). This year’s budget represents a significant increase of 18 percent from the 2022/23 financial year budget of P387, 011,910,” the mayor said.
He told the councillors that in the last financial year, funds amounting to P20 million were approved through the Development budget to augment road maintenance budgets.
“I would like to indicate that the asphalt overlay along selected portions of Marapoathutlwa road in Block 10, Litabi Way in Block 6, Mafukutswe Road and Mmaraka roads commenced on the 14th of April 2023 and is expected to be complete by October 2023.
“The project has been financed to the tune of P14.7 million. However, it should be noted that the remaining P5 million was allocated for the construction of the storm water drain project,” he said.
Abraham revealed that pothole patching continues, and noticeable improvements have been realised. He said at the end of May 2023, 68.8 percent of the potholes have been repaired, adding that works are still ongoing on the remaining
roads, and that they to expedite implementation.
“I must reiterate the Government’s decision that the 2023/24 CCP funds will exclusively focus on the maintenance of internal roads. The projects that will be implemented under this programme include; asphalt overlay, chip seal, paving and pothole patching across all constituencies.
“Council will engage local artisans, local plant and machinery and labour for the implementation of these projects, and this will contribute to employment creation in the city.”
