The Bali Council has adopted its draft budget for the 2026 financial year against a backdrop of declining public investment transfers, post-crisis recovery efforts, and renewed calls for unity among elected officials.
The session which took place in Bali on Thursday December 11, 2025, presided over by Mayor Wandum Ernest Bunga, highlighted both cautious optimism and lingering structural challenges facing the municipality.
A Budget Under Pressure
For the 2026 financial year, the Bali Council projects a total budget of 915,588,000 FCFA, covering both revenue and expenditure. This represents an increase of 96,875,629 FCFA compared to the 2025 budget of 818,712,371 FCFA, reflecting an estimated 8.9 percent growth.
However, beneath the apparent increase lies a significant concern: a sharp drop in Public Investment Budget (PIB) allocations. Government grants for major projects amount to only 261 million FCFA, a figure the council describes as drastically reduced and insufficient to meet the municipality’s growing development needs.
According to the budget breakdown, projected operating revenue stands at 514,000,000 FCFA, while investment revenue totals 401,588,000 FCFA. On the expenditure side, 546,588,000 FCFA is earmarked for operating costs, with 369,000,000 FCFA allocated to investment spending. Priority areas include infrastructure development, social services, hygiene and sanitation, as well as administrative functioning.
Mayor Highlights Community Reawakening
Speaking shortly after the session, Mayor Wandum Ernest Bunga attributed the overall budget growth to renewed civic engagement following years of instability linked to the Anglophone crisis.
“The community has come up very powerfully to participate in council business,” the mayor said. “Unlike during the peak of the crisis when people were aloof, there is now a growing consciousness. People are expressing their needs, and that is reflected in the budget.”
The mayor also pointed to government grants as a contributing factor, despite their reduced scale, and expressed hope that increased citizen participation would translate into sustained development momentum.
Machinery, Mobility and Local Presence
Among the council’s top priorities is the acquisition of basic operational equipment. Mayor Wandum disclosed that for the past five years, the council has operated without heavy machinery.
“At the top of our priority is the purchase of a 20-ton truck for the municipality. We must do that,” he stressed, describing it as essential for service delivery and infrastructure maintenance.
The mayor also underscored the importance of the council’s return to operating from Bali after years of displacement due to insecurity. While acknowledging that the new Finance Law has stripped councils of direct revenue collection powers, he noted that the physical return has significantly improved service delivery.
“People no longer need to travel to Bamenda for basic services,” he said. “We have seen an increase in the production of birth certificates, marriage registrations and other administrative services because we are now back home.”
Infrastructure and Social Inclusion
On infrastructure, Mayor Wandum highlighted the ongoing construction of a key bridge linking Bali to Mbengwi, describing it as a strategic project nearing completion.
“The importance of that road cannot be underestimated,” he said, adding that future works could further enhance connectivity between the two localities.
Addressing social inclusion, the mayor reaffirmed the council’s commitment to persons living with disabilities. He confirmed the existence of annual government funds dedicated to supporting them, while acknowledging that the assistance remains inadequate.
“We give them free access to certain council services and use available funds to meet their priority needs,” he said, while appealing for increased support once government revenue transfers begin to flow under the new system.
Divisional Officer Calls for Responsibility and Discipline
The session was marked by a firm intervention from Chi Augustine, Divisional Officer for Bali, who represented the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam. In a stern address to councillors, he warned against internal disputes and urged elected officials to focus on their responsibilities.
“A budget is not money kept somewhere waiting to be shared,” he reminded councillors. “It is a projection. You are the ones to go into your constituencies and ensure that revenue comes in.”
He criticized what he described as persistent quarrelling during council sessions, arguing that blame-shifting and political grudges were undermining development efforts. “Bali used to generate money,” he said. “Now nothing is coming because we are not working. Instead, we are blaming the mayor.”
The Divisional Officer also called on councillors to play a more active role in tax sensitization, peacebuilding and local security, warning that elected representatives would be held accountable for instability within their areas.
A Test of Governance Maturity
As the Bali Council enters the 2026 financial year, the adopted budget stands as both an opportunity and a test. With limited public investment, constrained revenue powers and high development expectations, much will depend on cooperation between the mayor, councillors and the wider community.
“The budget has been voted,” the Divisional Officer concluded. “Now you must help the mayor to realize it.”
Whether that unity materializes may determine how far the Bali municipality can move from post-crisis recovery toward sustainable local development.
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