THE Local Government and Housing Ministry will continuously look into ways to improve the efficiency of the local authorities’ processes and services so that they can generate ‘healthy’ cashflow and savings for the local authorities.
This will include charging utility companies for their use of council lands and advancing the due date of assessment rates to February and August instead of May and October in each year.
Its Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the local authorities would also be encouraged to embark on e-billing to reduce overhead costs, which is also in line with the Chief Minister’s vision for the state to leapfrog into digital economy.
He said his Ministry was also aware that some of the councils were not able to generate enough income due to small number of rateable properties in their area.
He said this scattered nature of settlement possesses logistic challenges to the district councils.
“Inspite of this, the state government still proceeded to reduce or abolish rates for the benefit of the people especially the low income group with reduce assessment rates for 412,357 residential properties and 132,186 properties totally free, causing a total reduction in councils’ revenue by RM30.5 million,” he said in his winding up speech.
Dr Sim also told the august House that the state government had approved an allocation of RM61.6 million this year for the 23 local authorities to implement 476 small to medium-sized infrastructure projects such as upgrading of street lightings, traffic lights, footpaths, public toilets, libraries, jetties and recreational parks.
He said out of the number, 464 are at various stages of implementation and the majority will be completed within this year.
“In addition to this, the state government through the rural transformation initiatives has approved 114 flood mitigation projects with a total ceiling of RM100 million.
“The projects will be implemented by the councils, Drainage and Irrigation Department and Public Work Department and currently they are at the various stages of planning and implementation,” he said.
He said apart from that, a total of RM3.5 million was approved for the implementation of various community development programmes.
Dr Sim said his Ministry had also identified seven local key result areas (KRA) that the local authorities need to focus on for the year 2017 and 2018.
They are hygienic food outlets, green and clean market, alleviating flash flood, creating business opportunities, safe roads, local help service and clean, functional and more accessible toilets.
“The local KRA were selected by local authorities based on their rating and also from top issues registered in eTalikhidmat,” he said.