The department of finance is one of the departments under the council responsible for effective and efficient mobilization and prudent utilization of financial resources in order to enhance service delivery.

Objective

• To maximise the revenue base of the Council through investment and prudent management of financial and material resources for cost effective and efficient service provision.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING FOR SERVICES

APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS LEVY

• Clients buy application forms at K50.00
• The client fills in the application form
• The business license is issued depending on the type of business

STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN APPLYING FOR FIRE CERTIFICATE

• Client pays for Fire Inspection at the main office
• The fire Inspection fee is categorized in three:
• High Risk
• Medium Risk
• Low Risk
• Client takes receipt to the fire section as proof of payment for inspection
• The fire Inspectors, inspect the clients premises and upon meeting minimum requirements, the client is issued with the Fire certificate.

STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN APPLYING FOR LIQUOR LICENSE

• Client buys application form at a fee of K250.00
• The client fills in the form and submits it to the Health section
• The health inspectors go to the client’s premise and upon meeting minimum requirements, the client is recommended to obtain a Liquor license, which is later issued.

The Department consists of five sections namely:

1) Revenue Section

2) Expenditure Section

3) Final accounts Section

4) ICT Section

5) Stores Section

1. Revenue Section

The department administers finances that are locally generated from several revenue sources and a Government Gran (Local Government Equalization Fund) that the Government of the republic of Zambia also supplements the Council.

The major local Revenue sources being: –

Þ Property Rates

Þ Fish and Kapenta Levy

Þ Business Levy

Þ Licenses

Other sources are as follows:

Þ Fees and Charges

Þ Other Levies

Þ Permits

Þ Development Charges

Property  Rates
The Rates Administration Unit of the Finance Department administers property rates as mandated by the Rating Act No.21 of 2018. The Unit deals with such matters as reconciling rates accounts, following up on rates delinquency cases through debt collection and management and any other related issues. Property rates tax is council‘s major source of revenue which contributes about 80% of the locally generated revenues. 

What are Property Rates?

These are property taxes payable to the Local Authority. Siavonga Town Council bill property owners whose properties are listed on the Valuation Roll.

Who pays Rates? 

Any person who owns a property or properties that are shown and listed on the Main Valuation Roll for the Siavonga Town Council. These properties must fall within the jurisdiction of Siavonga District as the Rating Authority approved according to the Rating Act.

Why should we pay?
Local Authorities are established to provide public services, and to achieve this, they require financial resources. These may be in form of grants from the Central Government or local taxes which the government has empowered councils to collect so as to finance their day to day operations.  

When are Rates due?
According to the Rating Act, Rates are due twice every year: on 1st January for the first half and on 1st July for the second half of the year. 

How does the property owner know that Rates are due?
Rates bills are printed and delivered to property owners twice every year in January for the first half and July for the second half.

However, we do appeal to the members of the public to find time and pass through the revenue section to check for their Rates bills that may have not been delivered to them.

When should payment be made?
Payment should be made within (14) fourteen days after the property owner receives the rates bill from Siavonga Town Council.

Friendly Advice to Tenants
Tenants are advised to find out from their property owners whether the rates on the property they are renting are fully paid.

Consequences of Failure to Pay Rates.
When property owners fail to pay or default in payment of rates Siavonga Town Council will issue a warrant of distress to the sheriff to seize personal goods and chattels of the defaulter to the value of the amount that is owed to the Council.

Business Levy and Trading Licenses

Every person who is engaged in selling wares or merchandise or providing professional services within Siavonga Town Council is by law required to obtain a licence for him or her to carry out a permitted trade or service.
This is in conformity with the Trading Licences Act cap 393 and section 25 (1) of The Amended Local Government Act no. 2 of 2019.

Prior to applying for a licence, a certificate of registration or incorporation is a pre requisite.

When to pay?
Payment of Renewals for already established businesses should be made by 31st October for the following year. For newly established businesses, payment can be made anytime of the year when they are just about to start operating.

Penalty for Late Renewal
The penalty for late renewal is a surcharge of K540.00

.OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE

According to section 27 (1) and (2) of The Amended Local Government Act no. 2 of 2019, the Council is mandated by law to impose other fees and charges that may help to broaden the revenue base and improve the financial position of the Council

AdvAdvantages of Paying TO THE COUNCIL

Þ Enable the Council acquire plant and machinery, equipment and tools for the provision of services to the residents of the Siavonga District.

Þ Enable the Council purchase materials necessary to provide these services.

Þ Enable the Council to pay for other operational expenses. 

Expenditure section

This is one of the Finance sections dealing with the preparation of payroll and making of various payments pertaining to Council operations

Final accounts section

This is also one of the sections of the department vested with the responsibility of taking records of all business transactions that are in monetary forms and update them in all the books of accounts and eventually come up with monthly Financial reports.

IT SECTION

This is also one of the department’s section dealing with Providing the security, integrity and confidentiality of the STC ICT resource and resources.

To ensure that the members of the Institution use ICT resource and services in an appropriate and responsible manner and to ensure that other partners do not misuse the ICT resource and services and maintenance of all Computer equipment for the Council.

STORES SECTION

This is also one of the sections of the department vested with the responsibility of ensuring that all stores records are properly maintained and stores items and materials are secured.