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Patrick Chitumba/Blessings Chidakwa, Midlands Bureau
REDCLIFF and Gokwe residents will not fork out more in tariffs next year as the two local authorities adopted standstill budgets for 2018.

Redcliff municipality and Gokwe town are currently operating on $8 million and $3 million budgets respectively, and the figures will remain unchanged next year.

Redcliff municipality Mayor Councillor Fred Kapuya confirmed that the local authority had resolved to maintain 2017 charges for 2018.

“We are maintaining the $8 million 2017 budget for next year. Remember in 2016 we were on $16 million which we cut by half taking into consideration the realities on the ground. We have noticed that we were dreaming big in our budget and therefore we have reduced some of the levies that we were charging residents such as the education levy and sewer levy. We are now focusing on things that our residents afford such as road patching and water systems,” said Clr Kapuya.

He said last year through Private Public Partnerships (PPPs) they had managed to purchase vehicles for management.

“So this coming budget we don’t need to purchase management vehicles and that means less expenditure,” said the mayor.

Clr Kapuya said they were optimistic of improved revenue collection as Ziscosteel Company, the town’s biggest employer, has started paying its employees outstanding salaries.

“We hope things will change because Ziscosteel workers who owe us a lot of money have started receiving their salaries. That should result in increased revenue for the council,” said Clr Kapuya.

Gokwe Town Secretary Ms Melania Mandeya said due to the economic challenges, the local authority has decided to maintain its $2, 8 million budget.

“In 2016 we had a $3 million budget which we reduced to $2, 8 million this year and that is the same budget we are maintaining next year,” she said.

Ms Mandeya said revenue had decreased due to unwillingness by residents to pay for services rendered due to bickering in council.

“Maintaining the 2018 budget is because of poor revenue inflows caused by the shrinking economy and the fact that the community has lost its willingness to pay bills due to bickering in the local authority. There are community leaders who discourage rate payers to settle their bills because they have personal scores to settle with some people in council,” she said.

Ms Mandeya said council had been forced to put on hold some capital projects because of funding challenges.

“Because of the decrease in revenue inflows we have been forced to put on hold projects such as the construction of a stadium. We have however been able to maintain the 30:70 salaries – service delivery ratio as per the demands from the Government,” she said.