The Cape Agulhas Municipality’s (CAM) main focus at the draft budget was on development and job creation.
“As Mayor and council we are committed to the following major focus areas, youth development; development and upgrading of recreational facilities; social development and related projects; local economic development (LED); beautification of communities; sport development; uplift and support the elderly; safety and security of the community; Covid 19 through increased social welfare support and job creation initiatives/programmes,” said Mayor Paul Swart.
So, shocks also await residents with increases reflected in the draft budget.. An increase of 4,8% (in line with projected consumer price index (CPI) in the Property Rates tariff is proposed for the 2022-’23 financial year. CAM says this is reasonable considering the current economic environment as well as the gap (deficit) between revenue and operating expenditure (all services except trading services) in the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF).. “South Africa faces similar challenges with regard to water supply as it did with electricity, since demand growth outstrips supply. Consequently, National Treasury is encouraging all municipalities to carefully review the level and structure of their water tariffs to ensure cost reflective tariffs are achieved,” said CAM. Therefore an increase of 4,8% (in line with projected CPI) in the water tariff is proposed for 2022-’23 financial year. . An 9,68% increase in electricity tariffs are currently factored into the projections below. This increase is subject to approval from National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa). . Sanitation: An average increase of 4,8% in the sanitation tariff is proposed for 2022-’23 financial year. This is in line with projected CPI and is required to ensure that the service provides a surplus in order to provide support to the capital funding requirements associated with the service. . Waste Removal: An average increase of 4,8% in the refuse removal tariff is proposed for the 2022-’23 financial year.
The service is currently being operated at a deficit. The municipality should investigate the service to ensure it service becomes cost reflective over time. “CAM has made great strides to achieve both these benchmarks,” the report emphasised.
“A large contributor to reaching the required levels of repairs and maintenance can is the costing system of the municipality. To view the draft budget visit www.capeagulhas. gov.za