Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa has highlighted a significant issue faced by municipal councils: they receive no financial benefit from issuing tickets and notices on behalf of other agencies. This includes operations like traffic management, where fines and penalties collected go to the responsible agency, such as the Land Transport Authority (LTA), while the councils bear the groundwork costs.
This inefficiency places an unfair financial burden on the councils, whose enforcement teams carry out the task without seeing any of the collected revenue. Nalumisa emphasized the need to revise current legislation to align with ongoing and new developments in governance and operational processes.
Efforts are being made to address this imbalance, with the ministry actively engaging stakeholders, including the LTA, to effect necessary policy changes. This initiative is part of broader governmental efforts to improve financial and operational efficiency across municipalities in Fiji.
Previously, related issues such as large-scale unpaid rates have significantly pressured local governments, hindering their ability to deliver essential services. The ministry and councils are working on strategies like rate profiling and structured payment plans to improve revenue collection and financial stability.
Moreover, other governance reforms aim to foster accountability and transparency within councils. These include reducing reliance on government funding by encouraging councils to operate more like businesses and to enhance service standards through better resource management.
By tackling these issues, the Fijian government is working towards creating a more balanced system where local councils can thrive without being financially undermined by necessary enforcement duties. With policy amendments and improved governance practices, there is hope for a fairer, more efficient local government structure that better serves the community’s needs.