Aggrey Mwanri

Mafia District Council received extra funding to cover its recurrent expenditure, fiscal year 2011/12.

Deputy State Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) Aggrey Mwanri, informed the House yesterday in Dodoma as he responded to the basic question by (Kilindi, CCM) legislator, Beatrice Shellukindo.

Shellukindo wanted the government to explain measures taken to meet the deficit budget requirements and also inquired into the extra or less funding for the recurrent expenditures for fiscal year 2011/12.

Mwanri explained that Geita district council received less and was allocated 4.5m/- which is about half what they had requested for fiscal year 2011/12 some 2.5bn/-.

He explained that budget planning, including recurrent funding concentrates on population, size of area, state of the income (conditions of poverty) and the network length of roads surrounding the proposed area of service.

The Deputy State Minister explained measures taken by the government to reduce effects associated with the deficit budget as, Restoration of grant revenue sources that were cancelled, that is, the General Purpose Grant (GPG), improve revenue collection and to identify new sources of revenue, recognise and identify sources of non-tax revenues such as contributions from public institutions and non-governmental organisations. These he said must be accounted for in the planning and budgeting system.

Meanwhile, Albert Mtangi (Muheza CCM) MP wanted the government to provide an explanation on what he called ‘the uneven budget fund distribution’ among district council.

Responding, the minister explained a section termed as ‘Other charges’ (OC) and said that Mafia’s district council receives the extra OC fund, due to its geographical location since access to the island is limited to water and air.

Kinondoni district was also cited to receive a high budget funding for development and recurrent expenditure. Legislator, Jenista Mhagama in her supplementary question inquired if the government will allocate other recurrent expenditures (OC) for councillors allowances.

Minister of State in the President’s Office for Public Service and Management, Hawa Ghasia elaborated that previously the councillors were not paid due to the unavailability of funds but that they would now be covered. Council funding has risen from 50bn/- to 63.5bn/-.