Walvis Bay tables N$1.1 billion budget

The Walvis Bay municipality has tabled a N$609 million capital budget and a N$577 million operating budget.Management committee chairperson, councillor Richard Hoaeb, assured the public that council will always continue to engage in land delivery projects, which serve as one of the main drivers of investment, prosperity and job creation."Council currently has four ongoing land development projects. Servicing of Narraville extension 8 with estimated spending of N$26.7 million, a pending land survey for township establishment at Meersig extention 3 (N$11.4 million), in-house planning, matters underway to be completed end of June for Kuisebmond erf 4171 (N$4.3 million), as well as a pending land survey to create erven at Meersig extension 2 with estimated spending of N$3.1 million".Amnesty providedThe capital budget, which consists of both continuation and new capital projects, include land development projects (39%), infrastructure repairs and replacements (15%), service delivery projects (16%), social projects (11%), as well as vehicle replacement and acquisition of new vehicles (18%) and operating capital-related expenditure (1%).AmnestyHoaeb announced that at a March council meeting, it was resolved to declare an interest amnesty, slated to end 30 June 2024."All residents, including businesses, are hereby encouraged to make use of the interest amnesty,” he said. He added that council “wrote off a total of N$6.4 million against the settlement of a capital balance of N$31 million since the inception of the interest amnesty in 2014.”In the budgetFrom a N$121 million allocated to land development projects, which will continue for more than one financial year, N$18.5 million has been set aside for the development of portion 11 at Farm 37.In addition, N$10.5 million has been allocated for the electrification of portion 10 of Farm 37. Portions 10 and 11 of Farm 37 will yield 727 erven, of which 677 will be residential.Moreover, N$26.7 million has been budgeted for the development of Narraville extension 8, which is expected to yield 81 erven, of which 71 are residential.The remaining N$11.5 million will go towards the development of Meersig extension 3, which is expected to yield about 94 erven, of which 86 are residential erven.Services and repairs A total of N$11 million was allocated for service delivery projects, which involve, among others, the implementation, upgrading and replacement of water and sewer infrastructure and the planning and construction of a new wastewater treatment plant.Moreover, N$16 million will go towards infrastructure repairs and replacements, including tarring, resealing and rebuilding of streets and intersections.Social projects were allocated N$18 million, which are allocated to several projects including the upgrading of Ekutu and Narraville cemeteries, the Build Together Programme as well as the construction of a fire station at Farm 37.Council set aside N$ 57 million for vehicle replacements and additions. Operating budgetExpected revenue for the new financial year is estimated at about N$577 million, while expected expenditure stands at an estimated N$577 million.Hoaeb said the total income and expenditure estimates exclude estimated non-cash income and expenditure of N$64 million and N$214 million, respectively. About 69% of the total estimated revenue will come from utility services and related service charges.Hoaeb pointed out that no tariff adjustments on these items were proposed for the past two consecutive financial years."Considering the average inflation rate of 4.56% over that period, the average increase in utility service tariffs, excluding rates and taxes, of 4% was made during the 2023 financial year. Due to the five-year annual valuation roll, no tariff adjustments were made on rates and taxes for that year", Hoaeb said.He added that considering the average annual inflation of 6.76% and also the anticipated increase in service provider tariffs, the utility services tariff has been proposed as 5% for water, sewerage and refuse and 3% for rates and taxes.nikanor@erongo.com.na

Walvis Bay tables N$1.1 billion budget

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Walvis Bay tables N$1.1 billion budget

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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