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Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council yesterday unveiled a flat $153 million total budget for 2016 in which revenue earnings have been pegged at $107 million with no changes to the tariff structure.

The local authority said it resolved to maintain the charges for 2015 citing the need to ease pressure on rate payers taking cognisance of the prevailing macro-economic difficulties.

Finance and Economic Development committee chairperson, Councillor James Sithole, announced the  proposed budget at the Council Chambers.

“The 2016 revenue budget proposal of $107,6 million is a stand still budget where there are no tariff increases. It seeks to address infrastructural maintenance and repairs, amortization of creditors, servicing of loans, as well as providing for the daily operations of the council,” said Sithole.

“Council hasn’t increased tariffs for the 2016 operating budget. In a bid to ease pressure on stakeholders, council proposes to continue charging 2015 tariffs. As such council has put in place controls to ensure that residents are charged properly.”

He said next year’s capital budget was pegged at $45,9 million adding that the projects would be funded from borrowings, internal sources and or grants.

In the midst of the economic challenges, Sithole said BCC was appealing to residents to pay their bills on time.

“Currently, the city isn’t in a position to invest as there aren’t surplus funds. The increase in debtors is an indication that some stakeholders aren’t honouring their obligations, a scenario which isn’t healthy for the revival of our city…Together we can improve service delivery and well-being of our citizens, making our city a better place to live in,” he said.

In the upcoming year, Sithole said BCC would continue to prioritise provision of water, health, sewerage, housing, roads, education, public lighting, fire and ambulance services.

The City Council’s total budget for 2015 is $158 million and this saw tariffs increase by four percent from the prior year. The 2015 budget was only $2 million more than the 2014 budget.