Madurai Corpn presents 'Outcome Budget'

Madurai, Mar 5 (UNI) Madurai Corporation today become the first Urban Institution in the country to introduce 'Outcome Budget,' in a clean break with the past.

Presenting a surplus budget of Rs 6.79 crore for the year 2008-09 for the Madurai City Corporation, Mayor Thenmozhi Gopinathan claimed after a lapse of nearly ten years, the Corporation had come out with a surplus budget, expecting additional revenue of Rs 17 crore through the revision of Property Tax.

The expected Income and Expenditure under revenue accounts were Rs 152.17 crore and Rs 150.96 crore, respectively. The expected Income and Expenditure under Capital Accounts were Rs 40.55 crore and Rs 34.97 crore, respectively.

The Budget laid more stress on the outcome of the schemes than outlay and output.

Ms Gopinathan said a Self Assessment System of Property Tax is to be introduced from the financial year 2008-09, besides E-payment System.

Special Software for online issue of Building Licence had been developed and e-governance would be introduced in all departments.

Touch Screen facilities for citizens to know their dues on taxes and fees, collection on wheels and interactive voice response system were among other facilities to be made available.

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