Stick to old budget, council told

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VICTORIA Falls residents yesterday urged the resort town’s council to maintain this year’s budget of about $8 million for 2014, a move that is likely to compromise service delivery.

VICTORIA Falls residents yesterday urged the resort town’s council to maintain this year’s budget of about $8 million for 2014, a move that is likely to compromise service delivery.

RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR REPORTER

The local authority has been dogged by financial problems that have seen deterioration of service delivery and sporadic strikes by employees over unpaid salaries.

Last year the council was taken to the Labour Court by employees who were demanding their unpaid salaries.

In submissions made at pre-budget meetings held by councillors yesterday, majority of residents were against the increase of the 2014 budget arguing that it would burden residents already struggling to make ends meet.

However, the move is likely to backfire as the cash-strapped council would continue to sing the blues if it maintains the same budget.

In an interview yesterday, Victoria Falls mayor Sifiso Mpofu confirmed the majority of residents were in support of maintaining the current 2013 budget although there were mixed feelings about the idea.