No big projects, no tax hike in budget for Smart City

Surat: There is no increase in taxes or user charges in the draft budget of Rs5,599 crore for the financial year 2019-20 for Surat Municipal Corporation presented by municipal commissioner M Thennarasan here on Friday. Thennarasan said, “We have tried to have a balanced budget knowing that we can’t raise taxes or user charges this year. If need arises, we can sell land in the possession of the civic body and raise funds for important projects.”
The tax revenue of the civic body in 2019-20 is expected to be Rs1,276.73 crore with property tax and user charges amounting to Rs1036.24 crore. Professional tax and vehicle tax collection are expected to be about Rs150.49 crore and Rs90 crore, respectively in the draft budget which has a capital outlay of Rs2,515 crore. Thennarasan also announced 2 per cent subsidy in digital payment of taxes for the months of April and May.

The draft budget, which lays emphasis on making Surat a sustainable eco city, has desisted from announcing any new big ticket projects. The work on the construction of barrage in the downstream of Tapi river and the civic body’s 55 floor administrative building on Ring Road will soon begin.

Thennarasan told TOI, “The draft budget has a few big-ticket projects. However, we didn’t want to have too many and then compromise on our commitment to provide basic amenities to people. Our focus is on health and environment and to ensure that the city has a sustainable development model. We plan to complete shortly the ongoing projects of basic facilities and aim at creating valuable space in urban areas. The draft budget also gives importance to use and reuse of natural resources.”