KATHMANDU, June 25: The local governments have unveiled their budgets for the next fiscal year 2024/25. After the central and federal governments presented their budgets, the local governments followed suit. Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bharatpur, Pokhara Lekhnath, Biratnagar, and Birgunj metropolitan cities have collectively introduced a budget of around Rs 54 billion for the next fiscal year 2024/25. 

Kathmandu has the largest budget among the metropolises. The budget of Kathmandu metropolis is equal to the combined budgets of the five other metropolitan cities. The six metropolises presented a total budget of Rs 53.24 billion rupees in the current year.

As per the legal provision, all local governments must present their budgets by June 24. Except for a few, almost all 753 local governments have complied. Kathmandu Metropolitan City, located in the country's most populated valley, has announced a budget of Rs 26 billion rupees for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/25. In the 15th budget session, Sunita Dangol, the deputy mayor of the metropolis, announced a budget of Rs 25.706 billion.

The budget includes Rs 19.156 billion from the metropolis’ internal sources, Rs 1.992 billion from federal revenue distribution, Rs 550 million from provincial revenue distribution, Rs 105 million from local revenue distribution, Rs 800 million from equalization grants, and Rs 100 million from provincial government equalization grant. It is estimated that Rs 8 million will be received from internal public participation.

The total accumulated fund of the metropolis is estimated to be Rs 24.206 billion, including Rs 1.450 billion from the conditional grant received from the federal government and Rs 447 million from the Bagmati province government. Additionally, an income of Rs 1.5 billion is expected from the land consolidation projects conducted by the metropolis.

Lalitpur Metropolitan City has announced a budget of Rs 7.4683 billion for the next fiscal year, a 15 percent increase from the current fiscal year's budget of Rs 6.5 billion. Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya allocated Rs 2.7889 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs 4.6794 billion for capital expenditure.

Bharatpur Metropolitan City has introduced a budget of Rs 6.5585 billion. Deputy Mayor Chitrasen Adhikari presented a budget that is Rs 246.8 million more than the current year’s budget. The budget includes Rs 2.463 billion from intergovernmental financial transfers, Rs 324.47 million from federal revenue distribution, and Rs 250.75 million from Bagmati province government revenue distribution, totaling Rs 582.267 million. Additionally, Rs 500 million from labor donations, Rs 1.6 billion from bank balances, and Rs 3 million from the Road Board Nepal have been allocated.

Pokhara Metropolitan City has presented a budget of Rs 7.51 billion. Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung detailed a budget including estimates of Rs 1.55 billion from internal income, Rs 3.833 billion from federal government revenue distribution, Rs 977.2 million from province revenue distribution, Rs 1.12 billion from local revenue distribution, and Rs 54.24 million from royalty distribution.

Biratnagar Metropolitan City announced a budget of approximately Rs 3.5 billion. Deputy Mayor Shilpa Nirala Karki presented a budget of Rs 3.4998 billion, an increase from last year's Rs 3.285 billion.

Birgunj Metropolitan City has introduced a budget of Rs 3.336 billion. Deputy Mayor Imtiaz Alam said that Rs 2.698 billion (62.04 percent) has been allocated for recurrent expenditure and Rs 1.266 billion (37.96 percent) for capital expenditure. The budget sources include Rs 95 million from internal revenue, Rs 1.706 billion from the federal government's fiscal equalization grant, revenue sharing, supplementary, conditional, and special grants, and Rs 798 million from Madhesh Province government's fiscal equalization grant, revenue sharing, supplementary, conditional, and special grants.