GET ready to dig deep into your pockets to fork out for higher bills.
With another increase in fuel prices on Tuesday this week, this year seems set to be a tough one for all.
Both Hibiscus and Ugu municipalities announced their final and approved budgets for the upcoming financial year at a People’s Council held at Uvongo Town Hall on Tuesday.
Before the budget was approved, Councillor George Henderson raised concerns that this could cripple many households as times were tough.
HCM’s approved operating budget is sitting at R785 051 100, with a capital budget of R131 776 135, making a total of R916.7 million.
In March this year, HCM proposed a seven percent increase for rates and taxes, including waste removal tariffs, while Ugu’s water and sanitation proposal sat at 5.7 percent.
Both budget proposals went up for discussions at community imbizos in April, at which the public was invited to make inputs and comments on the budget itself.
While many were concerned about the increases, most were more concerned about service delivery levels not being equal to tariff increases.
Although the budget allocation has differed slightly from the proposed budget, Hibiscus Coast mayor Nomusa Mqwebu said the budget was informed by ongoing difficult economic conditions and the worn-out road infrastructure needs.
“These increases are inclusive of the equitable share result to a projected annual operating income of R780, 584, 976, which is a 3,6 percent increase compared to the 2015/2016 one.
The projected annual operating expenditure is R780, 497,652 thus providing for a surplus of R87 324.00.”
Critical items on the budget are:
* Indigent support programmes – R50 million;
* Ward committee allowance – R2.1 million;
* Youth empowerment initiatives- R1.4 million;
* Internships and mayoral registration fee R1,2 million;
* R1.5 million for the Food for Waste project and R900 000 for poverty alleviation programmes;
* R1.1 million for the women’s golf tournament;
* R500 000 towards Ugu Jazz Festival.
* R450 000 for Africa Bike Week;
* R200 000 for Uvukile Gospel festival;
* R150 000 for HCM Cycling Classic and R150 000 for HCM marathon;
* R1,7 million each for Ugu South Coast Tourism and the Ugu Development Agency.
* R150 000 for Gamalakhe music festival.
* Repairs and maintanance R50.1 million, representing a 6.36 percent of the total operating budget.
The budget will be effective from the first week following local government elections in August, accommodating the amalgamation of Hibiscus and Ezinqoleni municipalities.
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