J.B Marks mayor tables 1.6 billion budget – tariff increases to take effect in July

The J.B. Marks Local Municipality held its State of the City Address and budget speech for 2018/2019 at the Dan Tloome chambers on Wednesday.

The executive mayor, Kgotso Khumalo tabled a 1.6 billion budget in total. The capital projects’ budget amounts to R132 447 000 – R122 547 000 of which comes from national grants and R11 900 000 that is internally generated.

The new tariff increases will come into effect on 1 July. The property rates, water, sanitation, refuse, and other revenue will increase by 6 per cent. The electricity is set to increase by 6.84 per cent pending Nersa approval.

Thirty-four councillors, from the African National Congress and independent councillors, approved the budget. The Freedom Front Plus and the Democratic Alliance voted against it and lost.

The Economic Freedom Fighters, on the other hand, abstained and chose not to participate in the debate.

Khumalo stressed that the merger had come with serious financial implications that the national government had not adequately funded.
‘The municipality will not be receiving any transitional demarcation grant for the 2018/19 financial year, even though the J.B. Marks municipality will have to carry on servicing all the outstanding debt of the former Ventersdorp municipality,’ he said

Historic and emotional day

This was also a historic, emotional day when the executive mayor honoured and paid homage to four leaders who have contributed immensely in ‘the struggle to better our nation and its communities’.

Present were the families of Dan Tloome, Peter Mokele, Dundee Ntsoelengoe and Johan Oosthuizen.
The mayor officially unveiled the name of the main council building of Dan Tloome and the caucus rooms named after the other three leaders.