6.2 Budget Process in Mangaung,South Africa

208 Adrienne Shall

TABLE 6.2 Budget Process in Mangaung, South Africa

Stage Activity

1: External and internal Budget parameters are established to make revenue environment consultation projections. Municipality is divided into clusters ofwards. Wards are notified ofthe dates ofcluster meetings well in advance ofthe meetings. Cluster meetings are held, at which development priorities and projects are discussed and prioritized for each cluster. Refined community proposals are presented to the broader stakeholder forum to solicit additional input. 2: Screening ofprojects All submissions from the clusters and stakeholder and programs forums are submitted to the mayor, the mayoral committee, and the executive management team, which discusses them and prepares the budget bill. Budget bill is publicized, so that stakeholders and the public can prepare for the budget conference, which provides another opportunity to provide input into the budget. After the budget conference, the draft budget is submited to the National Treasury for input and comments. Budget committee finalizes the budget. 3: Approval and reporting Final budget is tabled and approved by the council. Final budget is submitted to the auditor-general and the national and provincial governments. Stakeholders are informed ofthe budget cycle for the forthcoming budget year.

Source: Adapted from Mangaung Local Municipality 2004.

Uganda The budgetary process for local authorities in Uganda consists ofseven steps (table 6.4).

Citizen participation is limited to identifying needs and priorities for submission to the budget conference.Citizens may obtain copies ofthe draft budget once it has been finalized,but at this stage it is too late to consider any changes that citizens may suggest.

Zambia Citizen participation is not mandatory in Zambia,but some municipalities, such as Kabwe,have nevertheless accommodated it in the budget cycle