As per constitutional provisions, the federal government presents its annual budget on Jestha 15, while provincial governments do so on Ashar 1, and local governments are required to present their budgets by Ashar 10 each year.
In line with the Local Government Operations Act and the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act, most local levels across the country presented their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year on Tuesday. Some local units even submitted their budgets before the stipulated deadline.
However, a few local governments failed to do so due to internal disputes or technical issues. Notably, among the six metropolitan cities, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) was unable to present its budget on time.
While Biratnagar, Birgunj, Lalitpur, Bharatpur, and Pokhara met the deadline, KMC—home to the nation’s federal capital—missed it due to unresolved internal disagreements. Kathmandu, which operates with a budget larger than some federal ministries, typically garners high public attention during budget season.
The municipal assembly of Kathmandu has not convened for a considerable period. There has been no official statement from KMC regarding the delay in holding the assembly or presenting the budget. It is speculated that a rift exists between Mayor Balen Shah and the federally-appointed Chief Administrative Officer, which may be contributing to the stalemate.
Key municipal officials have reportedly failed to reach consensus on the city’s policies and programs. A few other local governments across the country are also yet to present their budgets or policy outlines.
