HUBBALLI: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) unveiled a surplus budget of ₹7.7 crore for the financial year 2026-27 in Hubballi on Monday. The budget estimates a revenue of approximately ₹1,603.2 crore against an expenditure of ₹1,594.4 crore, positioning it higher than other corporations in the state, except those in Bengaluru.
Meenakshi Vantamuri, chairperson of the taxation, finance, and appeal standing committee, presented the budget to applause from BJP members. However, opposition Congress members expressed skepticism regarding the data within the budget document.
The budget aims to generate ₹897 crore from the corporation’s own resources and anticipates receiving ₹706 crore in grants from both central and state governments. A significant proposal includes plans to collect ₹333 crore in property tax next year, up from ₹186 crore this year, marking an 80% increase. This projection is attributed to the completion of a GIS survey of properties in Hubballi-Dharwad, bringing more properties into the tax system.
Other revenue strategies involve raising ₹100 crore through the sale of leased properties and an additional ₹100 crore via one-time settlements by waiving interest on outstanding water bills.
The budget also increases funding for ongoing projects and proposes empowering the revenue vigilance squad to impose penalties on properties lacking building permissions and completion certificates. It expects funding from the 16th Finance Commission to rise to ₹82.2 crore, doubling the allocation from the 15th Finance Commission.
Meenakshi allocated ₹1,064 crore for capital expenditures out of a total budget of ₹1,595.4 crore. Other major allocations include ₹245.4 crore for human resources and ₹156.7 crore for maintenance. Each of the 81 members received ₹1.5 crore for a ward development fund, though an opposition member suggested increasing this to ₹2 crore. Additionally, the budget earmarks ₹4.1 crore for the distribution of pink e-autos to empower women.
The proposed budget also ensures the installation of LED bulbs across both cities, expands the 24×7 drinking water project to cover the entire Hubballi-Dharwad area, implements solid waste management initiatives, and develops gardens and lakes using central grants, alongside projects under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagara Vikasa Yojana.
Highlights:
- The budget outlines seven strategies to ensure HDMC’s independence and progress.
- Focus on tax collections from railways, the airport, and industrial layouts.
- Allocation of ₹5 crore for upgrading the citadel of Channamma’s statue in Kittur Rani Channamma Circle.
- Completion of construction for 320 houses designated for civic laborers.
- Offer of ₹25,000 to the top-performing girl students.
- Budget includes ₹5 crore for constructing a GB meeting hall in Hubballi.
