Should the budget be head-wise or general?
Budget has to be head and even sub-head wise. They are important for prioritising work. Income received under a particular head and expenditure incurred on a particular work need to monitored for maintaining financial discipline in any organization and more so in public sector.
Do standing committee chairpersons present unrealistic budgets?
Yes. The standing committee chairman and members worry more about development works. They expect to meet aspirations of the people who they represent. In order to match the figures of expenditure, they increase the figures of income without considering the actual income received in the earlier three years.
Why does corporation fail to meet its revenue target year after year?
This happens due to lack of proper enforcement and monitoring system. There has to be checks and balances when it comes to valuation of property and it may happen that the property has more rateable value but assessed at a lower side causing loss to the corporation. When I was posted in the civic body, I exposed how shops near Law College Square were being taxed on the basis of residential properties though the civic body was supposed to levy commercial tax.
How should municipal commissioners deal with elected representatives?
Municipal commissioners have to be fair and impartial. He must respect every member because a corporator represents thousands of citizens. They are the elected representatives. We, as officers, have accepted the democratic principle. So, in my opinion democratically elected representatives need to be respected. Municipal commissioner has to adopt appropriate communication policy, plan and strategise for effective communication.
Have you ever faced political pressure during your tenure as municipal commissioner? How did you deal with it?
Yes. But I could convince the politicians through proper explanations. Sometimes, by refusing to do the things which rules and regulations do not allow. One can explain the difficulty in implementation. Maintaining transparency as regards to works done and works pending suggested by the elected representatives.
Should the municipal commissioner heed to advice from mayor and standing committee chairmen?
Yes, he should interact with all. He should take advice of various office bearers and senior officers of the local body but act only in accordance with law.
(Shyam Wardhane was commissioner of Nagpur Municipal Corporation from August 2012 to January 2015)
Budget has to be head and even sub-head wise. They are important for prioritising work. Income received under a particular head and expenditure incurred on a particular work need to monitored for maintaining financial discipline in any organization and more so in public sector.
Do standing committee chairpersons present unrealistic budgets?
Yes. The standing committee chairman and members worry more about development works. They expect to meet aspirations of the people who they represent. In order to match the figures of expenditure, they increase the figures of income without considering the actual income received in the earlier three years.
Why does corporation fail to meet its revenue target year after year?
This happens due to lack of proper enforcement and monitoring system. There has to be checks and balances when it comes to valuation of property and it may happen that the property has more rateable value but assessed at a lower side causing loss to the corporation. When I was posted in the civic body, I exposed how shops near Law College Square were being taxed on the basis of residential properties though the civic body was supposed to levy commercial tax.
How should municipal commissioners deal with elected representatives?
Municipal commissioners have to be fair and impartial. He must respect every member because a corporator represents thousands of citizens. They are the elected representatives. We, as officers, have accepted the democratic principle. So, in my opinion democratically elected representatives need to be respected. Municipal commissioner has to adopt appropriate communication policy, plan and strategise for effective communication.
Have you ever faced political pressure during your tenure as municipal commissioner? How did you deal with it?
Yes. But I could convince the politicians through proper explanations. Sometimes, by refusing to do the things which rules and regulations do not allow. One can explain the difficulty in implementation. Maintaining transparency as regards to works done and works pending suggested by the elected representatives.
Should the municipal commissioner heed to advice from mayor and standing committee chairmen?
Yes, he should interact with all. He should take advice of various office bearers and senior officers of the local body but act only in accordance with law.
(Shyam Wardhane was commissioner of Nagpur Municipal Corporation from August 2012 to January 2015)
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