It was on expected lines as the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) presented its Budget setting the proposed expenditure at Rs3,770.92 crore for financial year 2015-16. The revised Budget expenditure for 2014-15 is Rs3,630.97 crore. The corporation proposed a hike in the Base Unit Area Value (BUAV) of property tax assessment to increase by 45 per cent while making no changes in the proposed professional taxes. However, the Standing Committee quashed the proposed hike in the Base Unit Area Value of property. With no fresh taxes being proposed, it simulated an election Budget.
“The Commissioner has proposed a hike in the base value of property tax which we totally reject. We disallow new taxes of any nature,” said Subhash Arya, Chairman of SDMC Standing Committee. However, no changes have been made in the house tax rates. With the proposed Budget expenditure pegged at Rs3,770 crore, trends show that the expenditure amount has taken a leap of Rs137 crore. The expenditure was pegged at Rs3,633 crore in year 2014-15.
Special budgetary provisions have been made under Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. 18 per cent of the total Budget focused on cleanliness and sanitation. The proposed Budget estimate for year 2015 has directed Rs647 crore towards sanitation.
The corporation has also proposed an increase in one-time parking fees. Demarcating Rs700 crore for education, SDMC proposed an award of Rs1,000 to students scoring more than 80 per cent in the academic year. RO will be installed in 60 schools. The corporation has proposed building 800 toilets in schools. For service improvement for all health institutions, NABH accreditation of all units will be the focal point for year 2015-16.