DA: Councillor Anthon Raubenheimer in a statement to the Courier said ‘there is enough meat on the bone to give hard-pressed ratepayers a 0% increase’.
“To ensure a 0% increase we must find a R5-million saving on this draft budget.
“By cutting down on salaries by limiting appointments and looking at ‘other expenditure’ (budgeted at R42-million up by 9.3% on the previous year) we can do this. We must ask: is it necessary to buy an office chair for R50 000?”

He was also concerned that expenditure on repairs and maintenance has been marked down to R7,7-million – a 2% decrease. “When we consider all the complaints about roads, paving, road signs and other infrastructure, it is clear we must be looking at increasing this budget.”
Councillor Raubenheimer added that the Council would earn extra income by selling the Municipal houses by public auction and by selling the 20 or so plots in Craigieburn that have been fully serviced ‘for several years now’

“Not only will Council earn money from the sale of these stands but the building of new homes will help create jobs and, of course, the rates base will widen. It makes perfect sense and will add to the Municipal coffers.”

EFF: Councillor Nathi Khanyile said the party also proposed a 0% rates increase. “Our people here are suffering badly and the Coronavirus pandemic has only increased that suffering. Many people are not working as businesses have been unable to open for over two months. We cannot expect people to pay more.

There is relief provided by central Government and Endumeni must look at accessing that relief. There is no need to increase the rates – we all need to cut expenses. The EFF is also concerned that more and more people are being employed at the Municipality and this has put further pressure on the salary bill.”

IFP: Callie Carelese said the DA/EFF/IFP had discussed the budget prior to the ‘virtual meeting’ and had agreed that there should be a 0% increase in rates.

“The pandemic has severely weakened our local economy. Businesses have been closed and not made any money. Workers have taken huge salary cuts or are being retrenched. The Municipality needs to look at this and for this year bite the bullet by not increasing the rates.

” The three parties proposed this and we hope that the matter is clearly debated when the budget is passed at the next meeting.”
Councillor Carelese said savings could easily be made, to make a 0% increase possible, by selling off the vacant Craigieburn plots and by finalising the cases of the suspended managers and officials.

“These have been suspended for months – in some cases for a year – and their cases have not been dealt with. So, they are sitting at home earning big salaries and all the allowances. To top it all, the Municipality has to fill these positions with acting managers who in turn receive an acting allowance.
“If these cases can be properly dealt with we will save lots of money and there will be no need for a rates increase.”

Read more:

IFP concerned about budget cuts to improve roads

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