Residents and institutions in Eenhana town owe the Eenhana Town Council N$38 million in unpaid services rendered by the council since last year.
This was revealed by Eenhana Mayor Mr Omri-On Kavandje when he tabled the town’s new financial year’s budget a week ago.
“As a result, Council is calling upon all residents, business community and government/ministries/agencies to always settle their accounts on time so that we become able to sustain our operations,” Kavandje pleaded.
“It is never being our motto to disconnect service accounts but to educate our people to pay their dues so that Council continues with the provision of services without any interruption to the benefit of our residents as so mandated by the Local Authorities Act of 1992.
“As Council, we understand the economic situation is hard; however, we are flexible enough to understand individual circumstances. In other words, the situation hits hard at home, come to the Town Council offices to make an arrangement to settle any arrears on your account.”
Kavandje added that his Council will continue to find other strategies to ensure maximised revenue collection in order to implement capital projects as demanded by residents.
“On this note, let me make it categorically clear that Council will not increase its charges on municipal services during the 2023/2024 Financial Year.
“However, Council has completed its General Valuation Roll for the next five years (2023-2028) and its implementation will start during July 2023.
“Hence property owners (both residential and business) are expecting to see a very slight increase on their ratable properties’ charges in their municipal bills.”
Eenhana Town Council has prepared a budget totalling N$89,709,527 for use during the year beginning July 2023 to July 2024.
Of this budget, N$55 million is budgeted for operational expenditures, while N$34 million will go to capital projects.
In the capital projects is included the buying of a new official car for the Mayor at N$726,000.
“As we are trying to cut costs and ensure efficiency in our operations for the development of our town, let me also seize this opportunity to remind the public that Council is hosting its 13th Edition of Annual Eenhana Expo from the 31st July to the 05th of August 2023 at Eenhana Convention Centre.”
In the photo: Eenhana is growing in terms of population and also infrastructure.
