07 Apr 2025

North West District councillors have approved the 2025/26 budget estimates with mixed feelings as some argued that it was inadequate to undertake all the planned developmental projects in the district.

The district, they said was faced with many challenges and the estimated budget would not enable the council to execute its mandate efficiently and effectively for the betterment of the communities.

Legislators shared their views during a recent special full council after presentation on the final budget estimate by the finance committee chairperson, Mr Diare Baoketsi, who informed them that the 2025/26 final recurrent budget ceiling for the council amounted to P250 238 400, which comprised of P239 320 400 Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and P10 918 000 of income from own source.

The house also learnt that the RSG showed a decrease of P40 907 070, which translates to 14 per cent from the P227 470 of 2024/25 fiscal year.

Included in the RSG, Mr Baoketsi said was the P10 696 326 for operational costs of clinics as they would be relocating to councils during this financial year. Personnel emoluments and other contractual operations for clinics, he said were not included in the above allocation.

The house also learnt that the overall budget for the council had decreased by P41 638 010 from P291 721 250 to P238 400 and that the income from own source had also been reduced from P11 648 940 in 2024/25 approved budget to P10 918 000 due to reduction in cash flow leading to lower investments.

Mr Baoketsi further told councillors that the largest share of the budget, which amounted to P119 976 210, went to personnel emoluments, which provided for employees’ salaries, members allowances, pension, overtime and scarce skill allowance.

“The vote has decreased by P22 134 213 as the overtime has decreased due to budgetary constraints.  Also terminal benefits for councillors’ end of term has reduced as the council only budgets for one or two councillors in case they exit before end of term due to unforeseen circumstances,” he added.

Special expenses vote, which provides for relief of destitute persons, food and accommodation, school stationery and others, he said had the second largest share of the budget at P76 499 030, which represents 30 per cent of the budget.

The remaining balance of the budget, which amounts to P23 004 100 and represents nine per cent goes to establishment expenses, he said.

While fellow councillors appreciate that the mandate of the council was to bring services closer to the people, they expressed concern that with such a small budget, they were going to fail the community.

Cllr for Samedupi/Chanoga, Mr Nico Folae expressed frustration, saying the said budget would limit the council to deliver projects as expected.

Nominated councillor, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho said such was a wake-up call for the council to intensify collection of revenue to augment its budget, noting that fellow councillors should appreciate that the government was facing an economic crisis, hence reduction in budget allocations.

He also urged leaders to explain the current situation to communities in their respective areas for them to appreciate and also inform them that other projects would be implemented through other programmes such as Ipelegeng and Community Constituency Fund (CCP).

Council secretary, Mr Thatayotlhe Balapi informed the house that they had been advised to maximise on the little resources they had, noting that they had to reduce on the expenditure. He also assured the house that if the financial situation improved, they would make some proposals to cater for some projects in the plan. ENDS