Irate about rates, taxes bill
Reebok resident:
I wish to bring a delicate matter regarding Mossel Bay rates and taxes to your attention.
My wife and I are the proud owners of a plot in Reebok, where we would like to build a retirement house in the next five years. I have now received my latest rates and taxes bill from the municipality with a great shock.
This, after the ridiculous increases last year. My bill has increased from R584 to R729 (+24.8%). Not nice to see in the current economic climate in this country. I have to absorb a huge increase with very little salary increases being paid in South Africa. Especially as the inflation is around 3% currently.
If this keeps on increasing per year like this we will definitely have to reconsider our move to Mossel Bay. My increases are as follows: 1. Property tax: From R101.63 to R109.29 (+7.5%) 2. Electricity availability, from R238.65 to R298.32 (+25%) 3. Water availability, from R243.44 to R321.51 (+32%).
I am not sure if you have placed articles about this or have received similar complaints. My vacant Mossel Bay erf now costs more per month in rates and taxes than my house in Centurion. Quite ridiculous.
Mossel Bay Municipality:
The municipality notes the concerns expressed by your reader. The municipality recently undertook an in-depth cost of supply study to calculate the actual costs at which services are provided. Owners of undeveloped plots would have noticed an increase in the availability fees. In part, this is to encourage the owners to develop their properties.
Also, the maintenance cost of the services infrastructure must be recovered from all residents. These costs have to be recovered from every registered erf in the municipal area that has direct access to the specific service (i.e. where the erf has a service connection, or the where the owner may at any stage request that the erf is connected to the municipal services infrastructure).
In the case of built-up plots, where both a basic fee and consumer fees are charged, the consumer fees partially subsidise the basic fee charges. In the case of an undeveloped erf, there is no consumer, consequently, the availability fee is more expensive than a basic fee.
The municipality invites the reader to meet with the head of revenue, Jannie Fourie (044 606 5000), at any time to gain greater clarity.