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

The Chief Financial Officer of the Mangaung Metro, Zuziwe Thekisho, explained the proposed increases of the metro’s Midterm Draft Budget and Integrated Development Plan at a media conference on Friday 17 April.

Residents of Mangaung now have the opportunity to give their input in the draft budget at public participation meetings or to look at the proposed increases online or at public facilities.

Thekisho said the proposed tariff increases include -5% on property tax to cushion increases that will come into effect with the new property valuation roll.

For the same reason, sanitation will have a 0% increase. The planned electricity tariff will be higher by 9.9%; with water increasing by 14.4%.

The DA in the Mangaung Metro started a petition to call for a budget that will 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 meaningfully offset the impact of increased property valuations and prevent unreasonable cost-of-living increases.

Also that the ratio between business and residential property rates be aligned with the national norm of approximately 2.5 times residential rates, instead of the current 3.4 times, to support investment, economic activity, and job creation.

It proposes that the massively increased property rates burden on agricultural properties, resulting from multiple use category changes, be reviewed and either postponed, withdrawn, or phased in over a number of years to prevent undue financial strain. This is a huge concern for many residents in agricultural areas that will face huge tax hikes.

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

• Thursday 23 April: Kopanong Hall (15:00-17:00) and Kagisanong Hall (17:30-19:30).
• Tuesday 28 April: Clive Soloman in Heidedal (15:00-17:00) and Paradise Hall in Bochabela (17:30-19:30).
• Wednesday 29 April: Dewetsdorp, Wepener and Vanstandensrus in the Wepener Qibing Hall (15:00-17:00).
• Thursday 30 April: Soutpan and Ikgomotseng at the Ikgomotseng Community Hall (16:00-18:00).
• Monday 3 May: Bloemfontein in the Bram Fischer Building, Indaba Auditorium (16:00-18:00).

The Draft Budget and IDP are available on the website 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 as well as hansie.vanzyl@mangaung.co.za and arrie.bartnis@mangaung.co.za.