TZANEEN – RATEPAYERS in the Greater Tzaneen municipality can expect a rates and taxes increase of between 5,8% and 12,2% in the 2015/16 financial year which starts in July.
Greater Tzaneen mayor, Dikeledi Mmetle, announced this during the presentation of her preliminary budget of R1 billion for the coming financial year at a special council meeting last Tuesday.
Mmetle said having taken into consideration the various factors such as income levels, unemployment and the inflation forecast, the council recommended a property rates increment of 5,8%. Water would go up by 6%, the cost of refuse removal would also increase by 6% while electricity would increase by 12,2%.
“When inflation rises, the cost of delivering services also increases, these include labour costs, maintenance costs and running cost. These factors call for an increase in user charges,” Mmetle explained.
She said the modest increase in rates and taxes would ensure that the Greater Tzaneen Municipality continued to maintain its financial position.
She urged residents to pay for services rendered by the municipality in time. “In order for this municipality to remain sustainable it is imperative that residents pay for services, revenue collection rates are improved and that we implement our revenue enhancement strategy as well as our credit control policy and by-laws,” Mmetle said.
