Ngwathe’s Local Council approved its 2019/20 budget last Friday, in terms of which most tariffs will increase by 5,6 per cent from next month. The DA and the EFF voted against it.
“We voted against the budget proposals because the budget figures had overestimated the expected revenue again,” the DA said in a statement to the Gazette. “On top of that, the figures already project an operating shortfall of R44 million.”
The operating revenue is expected to total R791 million and capital expenditure, R146 million.
On 1 July, the tariffs will increase as follows:
•Water supply: 5,6 %
•Electricity: 8,41 % (pending Nersa approval)
•Sewerage, refuse removal, cemeteries, hire of halls, etc.: 5,6 %
•Assessment rates will be based on the new general valuation roll, with the new rates slightly lower than those of this year (with discounts on residential properties different from those on business properties).
The new tariffs will be posted on Ngwathe’s website. A copy of the new tariff sheet will also be available from the municipal offices.
After debate, the DA asked for a vote and that the names of the councillors voting against the proposed budget would be recorded in the minutes.
The Freedom Front Plus’s only councillor, Mr Phillip van der Merwe from Heilbron, abstained from voting, after warning that the proposed abolition of irrigation water was unwise. He asked for this to be rectified later in the supplementary estimates.
