Page 43 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Finance.—In the Budget for 1367 a deficit of Rs. 40,000 was anticipated, however the revenue
•during the year exceeded the estimated sum by Rs. 14,683 and the expenditure, although higher than
in 1366 was considerably less than the estimated figure. The increase in revenue was mainly derived
from house and shop taxes. A re-assessment of the scale of house taxes was made during the second
half of the previous year and in 1367 taxes at the higher rate were paid for the full twelve months.
•Outstanding claims amounting to over Rs. 4,000 were recovered, in 56 cases the municipality had to
take ltgal action.

In Muharraq about 500 houses are exempt from municipal tax either because the houses arc
owned by Al-Khalifah, or their dependents, or because they are occupied by Imams of Mosques and
teachers of Quran or by people who are too poor to pay. About 250 houses remained empty during
the year, in most cases because they were not fit for habitation and goo houses changed hands. Over
800 permits for repairing or rebuilding houses were issued as compared to 500 permits in 1366.
Shop taxes increased by Rs. 3,250; there were 216 unoccupied shops and amaras which was
Jess than in 1366. Revenue from car taxes and miscellaneous sources was approximately Rs. 6,000
higher than in the previous year but taxes on sheep, ghee and wood were Rs. 5,000 below last year’s
-collections.
The total expenditure was Rs. 30,000 higher than in 1366, but 21,500 lower than the anticipated
amount. Certain projects which had been provided for in the Budget, such as the widening of some
important streets, were abandoned owing to lack of funds.

Municipal Offices.—During the second half of the year the municipality began to build its
new offices above the line of Municipal shops at the entrance to the Muharraq bazaar. Formerly
the municipality occupied a building which was rented from His Excellency Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa
Al-Khalifah on the opposite side of the road. The Government made a grant of Rs. 50,000 for the
new building and gave a loan of Rs. 20,000 to enable the municipality to build another flat, for letting
above the municipal shops.

The new building contains a council room, several large offices, stores and a wide verandah
opening on to a terrace facing the sea and the Manama-Muharraq causeway. The verandah is used
by His Highness every Monday when, according to his custom, he visits Muharraq and spends the
morning at the Municipality where all who wish to speak to him or to present petitions are free to do
so.
Municipal activities.—The new eastern road linking Baladiya Read with the outskirts of
Muharraq town was completed and some of the roads in the bazaar area were surfaced with cold patch.
A number of corners and projecting houses- were cut in order to widen the streets and a house on Shara
Al-Khalifah was demolished for which Rs. 2,300 was paid as compensation.
The usual cleaning of streets and bazaars was carried out including spraying public rubbish
•dumps and precautions against flies.
In addition to its normal duties the municipality carried out some building work for the Govern­
ment of which the most important item was the adaptation of a large Arab house, bought by the
Government from Shaikh Mubarak bin Hamad Al-Khalifah, for use as a Girls’ Kindergarten School.
During part of the year the municipality dealt with issuing of ration cards to the people of Muharraq
■and the villages in the island, until, in Shabaan, this work was resumed by the Food Control
Department.
There were 12 council meetings during the year, sub-committees met on 21 occasions and the
inspection committee made 35 visits.

HEDD MUNICIPALITY
Revenue 1367 .. Rs. 9.362
Expenditure „ 10,310
The revenpe increased to the extent of Rs. 1,108 over the figure for the previous year.