SOLWEZI Municipal Council has presented its proposed 2010 budget with an expenditure of about K25 billion, up from K24 billion approved this year.

Presenting the budget during a stakeholders' meeting in the council chambers, acting council director of finance, Charles Bupe said a minimum of 40 per cent of the budget would go towards the provision of services.

The budget has allocated about K9 billion on personal emoluments, about K1 billion more than what it has provided for services including refuse collection and maintenance of urban and feeder roads.

The local authority, which is planning to spend about K6.5 billion on workers' salaries and K2.9 billion on wages, has also provided for a 15 per cent increment on personal emoluments.

On the provision of services, Mr Bupe said the council projected to spend about K8.2 billion, with K3.4 billion being for maintenance of urban and feeder roads and K1.4 billion for land demarcation and surveying.

A provision of about K1.1 billion has been set aside for development in the wards, with each ward receiving K51 million, while K600 million will go to maintenance and erection of street lights.

The council is likely to spend K100 million on preparing the supplementary valuation roll that is expected to capture Lumwana Mining Company, which started production last December.

But even without Lumwana, the council expects to raise about K4.2 billion from ratable properties during the first half of 2010, with the bulk of it coming from Kansanshi Mine that will pay K3.6 billion.