Section 85: Annual estimates

85. Annual estimates (1) (a) A Village Council shall, in March of every financial year, draw up an estimate of the income and expenditure of the Council for the next financial year. (b) On or before 7 April next ensuing, 2 certified copies of the estimate, together with a statement of estimated assets and liabilities, shall be sent to the Chief Executive of the District Council in which the village is included for consideration. (c) The Chief Executive of the District Council concerned shall, not later than 15 April of every financial year, submit to the District Council the estimates of the Village Council for consideration. (d) The District Council shall, after consideration of the estimates of the Village Council, forward one of the copies of the estimates to the Minister with its comments for his approval. (e) The Minister may approve the estimates of the Village Council in whole or in part. (f) An attested copy of the estimates approved by the Minister shall be deposited in a suitable place in the office of the Village Council for public inspection. (2) (a) The Lord Mayor, Mayor or Chairperson of every Municipal City Council, Municipal Town Council or District Council, shall, not later than 15 April of every financial year, submit to the Municipal City Council, Municipal Town Council or District Council, as the case may be, estimates of income and estimates of expenditure of the local authority for the next financial year. (b) The Municipal City Council, Municipal Town Council or District Council, as the case may be, shall approve, not later than 30 April of every financial year, the estimates submitted, subject to such modifications as it may determine. (c) The Chief Executive shall, not later than 15 May of every financial year, in respect of the next financial year— (i) transmit to the Minister an attested copy of the estimates of income and estimates of expenditure for his approval, together with a statement of estimated assets and liabilities in a prescribed form; and (ii) transmit to the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of finance is assigned, a copy of the estimates and the statement referred to in subparagraph (i). (d) The Minister may approve the estimates of the Municipal City Council, Municipal Town Council or District Council in whole or in part. (e) An attested copy of the estimates approved by the Minister shall be deposited in a suitable place in the office of the Municipal City Council, Municipal Town Council or District Council for public inspection. L18 – 53 [Issue 7] Local Government Act (3) (a) The expenditure of a local authority, during any financial year, shall not exceed the amount laid down in the estimate approved by the Minister for that year. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a local authority may, subject to the approval of the Minister, amend the approved estimates. [S. 85 amended by s. 17 (2) (c) of Act 1 of 2015 w.e.f. 1 January 2016.]