The County Government of Taita Taveta has surpassed its own source of revenue hitting sh 302M against the projected 300M for the financial year 2018-2019.
The Acting County Executive Committee member in charge of finance and planning Davis Mwangoma said the internal source revenue collection will now see the county government put in a strong case for an increased share of revenue from the National Government.
Speaking during the launch of motorbikes for the revenue departments, the acting CECM noted that the 2018 finance bill has helped the county achieve its 300M target, days before the closure of the year.
He said the county targets to collect shillings 320M in the coming financial year.
The finance department has laid policies to strengthen the revenue collection among them being the ongoing update of the valuation roll.
The valuation roll is expected to be in use before the end of first half of the 2019-2020 FY and also strengthening of other departments especially health to enhance revenue collection.
“Capacity building of our staff in areas of technical assistance, knowledge exchange, structured learning and having a well-coordinated approach in terms of monitoring and supervision in all departments especially health by strengthening the inspectorate unit are among steps we are working on to ensure more revenue is collected.” he said.
County chief officer for finance and planning Leonard Lang’at said the development absorption rate undertaken by County now stands at 88%. .
Lang’at added that the formulation of a revenue policy/manual will assist in addressing loopholes in collection; accounting and reporting of county own revenue hence an improvement in the next financial year.
He requested for a follow-up on automation of revenue in consultation with the national treasury and council of governors.
The Finance Chief added that once proper collection in all revenue streams both tapped and untapped are collected and accounted for as per the laid procedures, the county will achieve its shs 320 million in the coming financial year.
The county through the finance department is now working on staff motivation, promotion and absorption of all casuals on permanent terms.
Other officers present during the launch were from the revenue department led by their director Renson Mambaria, procurement led by their director John Okuku and those of finance and planning.