Eenhana increases 2022 budget
The Eenhana town council has increased its 2022/23 budget by 18%, setting it at N$88.9 million more than the N$82.7 million tabled in the last financial year. The majority of the budget will go towards an improvement on housing delivery, mayor Omri-Onn Kavandje said. Operational expenditure continues to take the biggest chunk of the budget, he said, while capital projects have been allocated 29%.
Kavandje added that these costs are forced by an increase in maintenance of both water supply and sewerage reticulation systems in the town.
He said the recent increase on fuel prices will also contribute further to these costs, adding that council cannot stop using vehicles due to the escalation of costs - or service delivery will come to a halt and residents will suffer.
Moving forward
In an attempt to recover costs incurred in maintaining water and sewerage reticulation facilities, council will adjust its tariff structure by 4%.
Kavandje said sewerage connection fees are also adjusted by 10% to 25% depending on the size of the pipe.
“Everyone demands council to deliver within a short time, which is impossible due to the slow cash inflow and inadequacy of other resources. However, we believe that the adjustment we have made to the tariff structure will allow us to move forward,” he said.
Other areas getting preference during the 2022/23 financial year include N$10.2 million allocated to the provision of municipal services, while town planning will get over N$3 million.
Pay your bills
Kavandje also used the platform to urge the town’s residents to settle their unpaid municipal accounts.
He said council is faced with outstanding debt from consumers which stands at about N$30 million.
“We understand that Covid-19 had an impact on this shortfall. However, it is high time we start organising, reorganising, strategising and re-strategising our efforts to devise on how best we service our debts as we are adjusting to survive the effects of the pandemic,” he said.
The mayor said while the town faces many challenges brought by the ongoing pandemic, it has also made progress in terms of development.
Some of the completed projects include the delivery of 50 houses, the execution of phase one of the construction of the new office complex and the improvement of various sports fields at Extension 5 and the Ekokola and Oukango Park suburbs.
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Kavandje added that these costs are forced by an increase in maintenance of both water supply and sewerage reticulation systems in the town.
He said the recent increase on fuel prices will also contribute further to these costs, adding that council cannot stop using vehicles due to the escalation of costs - or service delivery will come to a halt and residents will suffer.
Moving forward
In an attempt to recover costs incurred in maintaining water and sewerage reticulation facilities, council will adjust its tariff structure by 4%.
Kavandje said sewerage connection fees are also adjusted by 10% to 25% depending on the size of the pipe.
“Everyone demands council to deliver within a short time, which is impossible due to the slow cash inflow and inadequacy of other resources. However, we believe that the adjustment we have made to the tariff structure will allow us to move forward,” he said.
Other areas getting preference during the 2022/23 financial year include N$10.2 million allocated to the provision of municipal services, while town planning will get over N$3 million.
Pay your bills
Kavandje also used the platform to urge the town’s residents to settle their unpaid municipal accounts.
He said council is faced with outstanding debt from consumers which stands at about N$30 million.
“We understand that Covid-19 had an impact on this shortfall. However, it is high time we start organising, reorganising, strategising and re-strategising our efforts to devise on how best we service our debts as we are adjusting to survive the effects of the pandemic,” he said.
The mayor said while the town faces many challenges brought by the ongoing pandemic, it has also made progress in terms of development.
Some of the completed projects include the delivery of 50 houses, the execution of phase one of the construction of the new office complex and the improvement of various sports fields at Extension 5 and the Ekokola and Oukango Park suburbs.
- [email protected]
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