Amman municipality endorses 2016 'deficit-free budget'

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Wednesday endorsed its 2016 budget, standing at JD497.270 million without registering a deficit.

Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji, who chaired the GAM council meeting to announce the budget, said around 45 per cent of the 2016 capital expenditure was allocated for infrastructure projects.

Samer Yasin, deputy city director for financial and administrative affairs at GAM, expected the municipality's self-generated revenues in 2016 to reach JD330.370 million, representing some 66.4 per cent of GAM's total revenues in the next year.

GAM's total expenditure in 2016, JD497.270 million, will include JD184.187 million for current expenditure, some 37 per cent of the total, including salaries, rents, operational and other expenses, he noted.

"Capital expenditure, 63 per cent of the total, will amount to JD313.083 million, including development projects, expropriation and paying back loans," Yasin explained.

Around JD154 million will be allocated for development projects in 2016, marking a 44 per cent increase compared to 2015, he said, noting that GAM will use some JD47 million for paying back loans.

The Gulf Cooperation Council grant will contribute around JD59 million to GAM's budget, which the municipality will direct towards infrastructure development and implementing some traffic intersections in Amman, Yasin added.

The municipality's revenues have witnessed "remarkable increases" starting from 2013, when the current council assumed office, compared to 2012, Yasin said, noting that revenues increased by 24, 40 and 63 per cent in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.