Addu City Council to receive MVR 75 million as Govt. block grant in 2023

Addu City Council | Photo: Sun

Malé, Maldives – Addu City Council will receive MVR 75 million as the government provided block grant for the year 2023.

This was revealed in the budget circular published by the Ministry of Finance, further detailed that the total amount to be disbursed to all local councils in 2023 will be MVR 1.6 billion.

Out of this amount, the largest sum will go to Malé City Council, amounting to MVR 166 million. The second largest amount goes to Addu City Council, while the third biggest budget is allocated for Fuvahmulah City Council at MVR 48 million, followed by Kulhudhuffushi City Council, which will receive MVR 36 million.

In total, these four city councils will receive 20% of the total allocated budget.

Other island councils receiving significant amounts include:

  • Gdh. Thinadhoo Council – MVR 25 million
  • L. Gan Council – MVR 20.2 million
  • Lh. Naifaru Council – MVR 19.9 million
  • R. Dhuvaafaru Council – MVR 16 million
  • HA. Dhidhhoo Council – MVR 15 million
  • K. Maafushi Council – MVR 15 million
  • GA. Villingili Council – MVR 15 million

Although figures have been announced in the circular as such, the Finance Ministry stated that figures are subject to change but that councils are advised to formulate their annual budgets based on these estimate figures.

According to the regulations councils are required to include the block grant amount as well as conditional grants by government offices and trust funds, along with other assistance provided to councils in the annual budgets.

The deadline for councils to submit their estimated budgets from 2023 to 2025 is 15th September.

This year councils received a total of MVR 1.5 billion in block grant allocations, which is a 20 percent increment from the previous year. As of last month, Ministry of Finance has disbursed MVR 850 million as block grant amounts this year.