The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said the 2017/2018 draft budget sets a new benchmark for the delivery of better services.
This includes the elimination of corruption and the development of the economy to create jobs in the Metro.
Executive Mayor, Athol Trollip said the eradication of bucket toilets, the establishment of a safe, reliable public transport system, the formation of a well - trained, fully compliant metro police service were just some of the ways that the local government was transforming the Metro into a rising city of opportunity.
He said the draft budget, which was given the nod by the Mayoral Committee on Wednesday, will be tabled at a full Council meeting on Thursday for approval.
“Today (Weds) was a very important meeting with the budget and treasury steering committee and councillors from all political parties. We tabled our draft for noting at the full Council meeting,” he said.
Trollip said once this is done it goes to Treasury for final approval. The final budget will be passed at the end of the financial year.
Trollip said poor communities have been prioritised through varied capital projects, which have received sizeable allocations for the budget period 2017/18.
He said the biggest portion will go towards the Assistance to the Poor programme, which has received a budget allocation of R543 million.
