The budget session of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) began today with the tabling of Rs 4.33 lakh deficit budget for 2024-2025.
As per the budget presented by Chief Executive Member Pyniaid Sing Syiem, expenditure is estimated at Rs 329, 07, 00,710 while revenue is estimated at Rs 329, 02, 67,300. This gave a budget deficit of exactly Rs 4, 33,410.
Syiem also informed the house that the total revenue collected during the 2023-2024 financial year up to January was Rs 73, 39, 20,548.
He said the revenue generated the most was from trade and professional taxes as well as forest fees.
Revenue from professional tax from April 2023 until March is more than Rs 11.8 crore while the fees collected from trade are more than Rs 3.53 crore. Land revenue was more than Rs 43.40 lakh and forest royalties, etc were more than Rs 1.88 crore.
On staff salaries, Syiem said that the KHADC has around 800 staff, including casual workers, with an average expenditure of Rs 5 crore monthly.
However, he clarified that funds from development grants received from the state and central governments cannot be used to pay the employees’ salaries.
