Oudtshoorn se uitvoerende burgemeester, Johan Allers, het tydens ’n gewone raadsvergadering verlede Donderdag 5 Junie, sy eerste begroting in sy termyn as burgemeester aan die raad voorgelê.
Die begroting is by monde van vier DA raadslede wat spreekbeurte gevra het, teengestaan. Die vorige burgemeester, Chris Macpherson, het te velde getrek teen die begroting en gesê die nuwe burgemeester keur nou dele van die begroting goed waarteen die VF+ met die vorige begroting gestem het. Hy het die wyse waarop riooltariewe verhaal word as voorbeeld gebruik.
Allers het hom daarop gewys dat die VF+ nie op grond van die riooltariewe die begroting teengestaan het nie, maar op grond van die geweldige verhoging in eiendomsbelasting wat verlede jaar aangekondig was.
Die speaker, Suzanne Jansen (PA) het konfrontasie voorkom deur slegs raadslede wat spreekbeurte gevra het, op die vloer toe te laat en die uitvoer-ende burgemeester geleentheid gegee het om te reageer. Die begroting is met 13 stemme teenoor 8 goedgekeur.
Tariefverhogings is elke jaar met die begroting ʼn groot bron van kommer vir inwoners. Met die jongste begroting is die volgende tariefverhogings aangekondig:
Eiendomsbelasting – 6%
Elektrisiteit – 13% (Onderhewig aan goedkeuring deur NERSA)
Vullisverwydering 12%
Riool – 6%
Water – geen tariefverhoging
In ʼn mediaverklaring het Aurelia Mle, kommunikasiebeampte van die munisipaliteit, die volgende opsomming van die begroting gegee: (Dit word in Engels gelaat soos ontvang).
OPERATING BUDGET
- Total Operating Revenue: R1.067 billion (9.45% increase from previous year)
- Total Operating Expenditure: R1.083 billion
- Operating Deficit: R16.4 million
- Accounting Surplus (including capital grants): R25.8 million
- Anticipated Cash Surplus: R163 million
- Repair and Maintenance Allocation: R32 million (3.2% of total expenditure)
- Roads: R7.2 million
- Electricity Network: R6.4 million
- Water & Sewer Networks: R5.9 million
TARIFFS
Tariff setting is approached with care, considering the socio-economic realities of residents and the municipality’s sustainability. - Property Rates: 6% increase
- Electricity: 13% (subject to finalisation by NERSA)
- Water: 0% average increase (basic charges restructured, including new basic charge for pre-paid meters)
- Refuse Removal: 12% increase (still not fully cost-reflective)
- Sewerage: 6% increase
The overall increase in municipal bills will range between 10% and 11%, primarily due to electricity and refuse removal. Without electricity, the increase is approximately 6%. The municipality’s Customer Care, Credit Control, and Debt Collection Policy is reviewed annually, incorporating feedback from public engagements and internal stakeholders.
CAPITAL BUDGET - Capital Budget Allocation: R81 million—the highest in three years
- Funding Sources: Conditional Grants, Borrowings, and limited Own Revenue
- Refuse Removal: 12%
- Sewerage: 6%
- Water: 0% increase; however, new prepaid basic charges will apply.
The Mayor extended his gratitude to the Director of Finance and team, the Municipal Manager, senior ma-nagers, councillors, and community stakeholders for their dedication in crafting and supporting a budget and vision that places the people of Oudts-hoorn at the centre.
“Let us now work hard, together, to implement this budget with integrity and for the benefit of all our people,” the Mayor stated as he ended his budget Speech. (HANNES VISSER)