A municipality’s budget is the core of its operations, projects and its growth. Funzela Ngobeni, the City of Johannesburg’s Finance MMC, said when it comes to deciding on which department gets which slice of the budget, it all starts with the community.

“The decisions come from the engagements we have with our residents when we do the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process. We hear what they need in terms of facilities and infrastructure,” Ngobeni said.

“We also look at where the City is at the moment in terms of infrastructure backlogs. All those factors are taken into account. But it is mostly about what residents have asked for.”

The City’s consultation goes as far as engaging with businesses and other relevant organisations within Joburg.

All give input and is taken into consideration when the annual budget is crafted.

But the City also looks to the spatial development framework, the City’s long-term development plan, that also guides the budget.

“It is a difficult process since we have to balance all the competing needs of communities and making sure that we maintain the infrastructure that we have.”

Ngobeni said the goal is to spend at least 10 per cent of the City’s total asset value on maintenance thereof. This is in line with National Treasury’s requirements.

Towards approval of the budget, the City will take it to the council where it will be debated by councillors from the ruling coalition parties, partners as well as the opposition.

The annual budget is presented around May each year, shortly after the State of the City Address (Soca) by the mayor.

The budget aims to reveal how the mayor’s plans, revealed in the Soca, will be implemented.

A municipality is then also allowed one adjustment budget per year, usually brought to council around February.

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