If municipality just did its job . . .

The Ilembe Chamber of Commerce and KDM Economic Development and Planning are promoting the Ballito Urban Improvement Project (UIP). I accept that this is a legitimate project in terms of the Special Rates Area, as the need to upgrade Ballito’s beach front is obvious. I assume that the process for establishing the SRA has been complied with in terms of obtaining the support of the relevant percentage of owners.
However I have several concerns relating to the proposal of using such a large special levy to pay for the upgrade. The proposal has been benchmarked with four old established municipalities where all parties are familiar with their obligations and rights. Ballito, on the other hand, is still in its infancy with all the teething problems that flow from it. We are not comparing apples with apples.
Existing situation: KDM has a responsibility to collect rates and taxes from all ratepayers and to use that money to pay for the regular maintenance and upkeep of the municipality. Why then is there a need for such a large levy and an extensive UIP?
Is current productivity being measured? Is there accountability for meeting collection and efficiency targets? If this is not happening, how will increasing the workload help? Surely it will only make the problem bigger?
The current KDM rates revenue is R263m. Is everyone who uses the services contributing to this sum and are the funds being spent wisely and efficiently? The extra UIP budget is R60m, an increase of 22.8%. Wow!
Proposed new levy: Who determined the amount of the special levy and who has to pay it? We need transparency about this calculation.
We also need details of who is included and, more importantly, excluded from paying the levy, what discounts and/or rebates are being given etc. In particular, what happens to vacant plots, KDM properties (Ballito Chambers, clinic, fire station etc) and pensioners? Will body corporates who do their own beautification and maintenance be compensated for that work or be given a rebate off the special levy?
Alternative solutions: 1) The KDM pay Ilembe Chamber for the work as envisaged like they do for grass cutting tender and the extra cost comes out of existing rates or a smaller special levy imposed equally on everyone?
2) Better still,  Ilembe Chamber take over and form our own Ballito municipality?
3) Get the KDM to do the work in the Special Rates Area by looking at saving of unnecessary, wasteful etc expenditure of our rates. For example, R3.5m ward committee budget – if they were doing the work, there would be no need for the UIP.
4) Reduce the tariff by 75% to make it more affordable.
SA is a democratic country and these matters should be in the open and debated by all. I fear that before any discussion happens, it will be a fait accompli.
FRANK DU TOIT
Ballito