THE NIPPY Autumn weather did not hinder Bhekuzulu community members from attending the Budget Roadshow held at Bhekhuzulu Hall last week.
Locals from Wards 10, 11, 13, and 22 filled the hall to capacity last week keen to hear how the coming financial year’s budget is set up.
The coming financial year’s budget stands at R518 million, with the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) at R35 million and the capital budget for electricity standing at R20 million.
According to a report from the municipality, the main challenges that were experienced during the compilation of the 2016/2017 budget were the ongoing difficulties in the local economy, the ageing water, roads and electricity infrastructure. As well as the need to prioritise projects and expenditure within the limited resources available.
The budget income summary was as follows: Rates: R64 million, electricity: R201 million, water: R43 million, refuse: R19 million, sanitation: R26 million, grants and subsidies: R114 million, grants-capital: R55 million, other: R51 million.
While the budget expenditure salary was: employee costs: R142 million, councillors: R16 million, depreciation: R110 million, bulk purchases: R159 million, contracted services: R97 million, grants paid: R14 million, and repairs and maintenance was R26 million.
Addressing the community members at the roadshow, AbaQulusi Municipality’s mayor, Cllr Patience Khaba expressed her gratitude to the community for always coming out in numbers whenever these roadshows have been announced.
“We would like to remind you that these figures are not final and we are more than willing to listen to your suggestions or queries regarding the tariff increases,” the mayor said.
Stressing that the revenue must be managed effectively and that all spending decisions should be carefully eveluated, the mayor went on to announce the tariff increases as follows: rates: 6.6%, electricity: 7.64%, water: 10%, sanitation: 10% and refuse 10%.
Cllr Khaba went on to say that the municipality is aware of the dire situation that the current drought has brought upon the town. She said that the municipality was doing all they can to ensure that water was being taken to the various areas in town to aid the situation, and pleaded with the community to be patient with them as a municipality as the lack of water is beyond their control.
The revamping of streetlights was raised at the meeting and the mayor assured residents that measures would be taken in order to ensure that the different wards have sufficient street lights as the lack of these often leads to the rise in crime.
The mayor also voiced her concern over the issue of electricity theft in Vryheid.
“Although the money we expect to receive for electricity has already been mentioned, there is still a great chance that far less than that will be paid back to the municipality,” she said.
Some residents complained that it was in actual fact municipal workers who bridged their electricity and asked the mayor to do an inquest.
The issue of indigent applications was raised and community members said that they no longer understood who could apply for indigents as initially these had been meant for the less fortunate yet some families who can afford to pay for their water and lights had qualified.
The mayor said that she would look into the matter and went on to say that sometimes when councillors are approached by people applying for or claiming indigence they do not actually visit the homes of these people to see whether what they claim is true.
After the question and answer session community members were treated to a free meal.
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