The Mangaung Metro plans a decrease in property tax in the budget following valuation roll increases of between 15% and 50%.

This is according to Zuziwe Thekisho, chief financial officer (CFO) of the metro, with the metro’s midterm draft budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) now being taken to communities for their input.

Thekisho said in a news conference on Friday 17 April, proposed tariff increases included a -5% on property tax because of the new valuation roll. She stressed that this was a cent in the rand rate. For the same reason, sanitation would have a 0% increase, which will counter the property tax increases. The planned electricity tariff would be higher with a 9,9% increase, with that for water increasing by 14,4%.

The DA in the metro started a petition to call for a budget that would protect residents, support economic growth and ensure sustainable service delivery. They say the current draft budget places an increasing burden on a shrinking base of paying residents, fails to adequately prioritise infrastructure, and is not properly aligned with the city’s own development priorities.

Some of the issues being highlighted in the petition include the General Valuation Roll following the approximately 49% increase in residential property values.

In the petition, the DA suggest a budget to be amended to significantly increase funding for repairs, maintenance and infrastructure renewal to meet accepted minimum standards including prioritising the refurbishment and upgrading of existing infrastructure over new projects. If the proposed R50 basic charge is implemented, it must be ringfenced for renewal of existing electricity infrastructure.

The DA is suggesting that property rates and the rebate structure be urgently reviewed, and that the proposed 5% tariff reduction be deepened by at least a further 10% or more to offset the impact of increased property valuations and prevent cost-of-living increases.

Braam Vorster from the VF Plus says the excessive increases of the water tariffs are unacceptable in a metro with water losses of nearly 48.6%.

According to the draft budget, households in the lowest consumption bracket (0–6 kilolitres per month) face a massive increase of 46.83%, with tariffs soaring from R13.28 to R19.50 per kilolitre.

Furthermore, the basic availability charge for residential properties is being increased from R52.75 to R70.00.

Residents can attend the scheduled sessions at the following dates and times:

■ Thursday 23 April: Kopanong Hall (15:00 to 17:00) and Kagisanong Hall (17:30 to 19:30);

■ Tuesday 28 April: Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal (15:00 to 17:00) and Paradise Hall in Bochabela (17:30 to 19:30);

■ Wednesday 29 April: Dewetsdorp, Wepener and Vanstandensrus in the Wepener Qibing Hall (15:00 to 17:00);

■ Thursday 30 April: Soutpan and Ikgomotseng at the Ikgomotseng Community Hall (16:00 to 18:00).

■ Monday 3 May: Bloemfontein in the Bram Fischer Building, Indaba Auditorium (16:00 to 18:00).

The draft budget and IDP are available at mangaung.co.za or can be viewed at public libraries and municipal offices in all the towns in the metro.

Email comments, inputs and suggestions to IDPcomments@mangaung.co.za.