The City announces proposed property and tariff increases set to kick in 1 July
JOHANNESBURG – If the city's proposed budget is approved, increases in electricity and water could go as high as 9 per cent.
During the City of Johannesburg council meeting for March, the proposed budget increases for the 2019/2020 financial year were announced.
The increases will kick in on 1 July.
The proposed increases are:
- Property rates increase by 5.5 per cent
- Electricity increases by 12.2 per cent
- Water increases by 9.9 per cent
- Sewer increases by 9.9 per cent
- Refuse increases by 7 per cent
Executive Mayor Herman Masahaba said, “The proposed medium-term budget seeks to demonstrate the multi-party government’s commitment to not only ensure that communities gain greater and improved access to services but also aims to encourage our residents’ participation in the budgeting process.”
The total proposed budget for the financial year is R65.6 billion – it includes R57.3 billion in operational expenditure (Opex) and R8.3 billion in capital expenditure (Capex).
Mashaba said the Diphetogo Project introduced last year would be taken forward in this medium-term budget with a larger portion of its budget directed to the most important service delivery and infrastructure requirements of residents.
“I am pleased to announce that in accordance with the Diphetogo Project, the percentage of the capital budget spent on basic services (roads, water, electricity, housing and transport) has grown from 58 per cent in 2016/17, to 71 per cent by 2019/20.”
Capital expenditure projects for the medium-term project include:
- Electrification of various informal settlements – R750 million
- Hostel upgrades – R245 million
- Installation of new public lighting citywide – R150 million
- Temporary and emergency accommodation – R150 million
- Planned sewer replacement – R300 million
- Resurfacing of roads – R450 million
- Resurfacing of M2 motorway – R150 million
- Resurfacing of M1 motorway – R150 million
- Road Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Programme – R420 million
- Traffic calming: Citywide – R20 million
- Stormwater improvements – R150 million
- Tarring of gravel roads – R150 million.
The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) where the City presents capital expenditure projects to residents will be conducted at various locations in Joburg.
To find out when the IDP will be presented in your area visit www.joburg.org.za
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/153397/r52-6-billion-budget-for-city/
