HDMC announces Rs 19 crore surplus budget for 2025-26

Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has released a surplus budget of around Rs 19 crore. This budget includes five key strategies aimed at developing the twin cities. The overall budget for 2025-26 is Rs 1,512.6 crore, which is an increase from Rs 1,491.7 crore in the current year. The five strategic initiatives focus on increasing revenue by using GIS surveys for property taxes, implementing LED lighting with public-private partnerships, ensuring complete door-to-door waste collection, finishing the 24x7 drinking water project, and improving essential infrastructure. Chandrashekhar Managundi, the standing committee chairman for taxation, finance, and appeal, presented the budget. The expected revenue for the next financial year is Rs 1,512.6 crore, with state and central government grants projected at Rs 694 crore. Tax revenues are estimated at Rs 303 crore, largely from property tax, while non-tax revenues are expected to be Rs 296 crore. From the total planned expenditure of Rs 1,493.6 crore, Rs 978 crore, or 65%, is set aside for capital projects. The budget also allocates Rs 105 crore for ward funds, with specific amounts designated to elected and nominated members. Other important allocations include Rs 5 crore for the commissioner and Rs 3 crore for the mayor. Additional spending includes Rs 170 crore for roads and emergency works, and Rs 152 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikasa Yojana. The corporation plans to spend Rs 60 crore on solid waste management as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. A new health insurance scheme called Arogya Raksha will benefit HDMC members and civic workers, with Rs 75 lakh budgeted for it. The development of lakes and gardens will receive Rs 25 crore from the Amrut scheme. Despite protests from opposition Congress members during the budget presentation, the budget was approved after majority voting. The Congress party members protested against the language used during discussions. The mayor clarified the language was appropriate, allowing the budget reading to continue.