The committee made only two minor changes in the proposed budget — one is the increase in the budgetary allocation for Ummeed training programme — a state government scheme for self-employment, and the other one on the expenses on clothing for the employees. It suggested an increase of Rs 25 lakh for the training programme and Rs 72 lakh hike on the clothing.

While leaving the decision on the proposed tax hike upto the general body’s budgetary session, the Standing Committee made a series of recommendations for monitoring and expediting the Corporation’s work through computerisation.

Outlining the necessity to hike taxes, Standing Committee chairman Dinesh Choksi said, “It is just not Vadodara, all civic bodies covered under JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) cannot afford to provide subsidised services anymore. Also, now people are willing to pay if the services are delivered.” He said that this year’s budget emphasises on making the city slum free.

After having experienced a zero percent hike in taxes and nominal increase in water charges in the past few years, this time, the political parties are also endorsing tax hike, more so as the Assembly elections just got over. While the committee has made no concrete proposal for alternate sources of revenue following the abolition of octroi, they are mulling over levying possible vacant land tax and even charging for door-to-door garbage collection. But its members said that moves to levy additional charges will be discussed only in the general board budgetary meeting, which is slated to be held before February 20.