The municipality published its proposed new budget last week and is asking members of the public to comment on it.
According to the new budget, the electricity charges for households will increase by eight per cent, while the rates for household water will in- crease by between five and 7.9 per cent, depending on the amount of water that is used.
All types of refuse removal, except that of bulky garden waste, will cost 6.5 per cent more in the coming financial year. Bulky garden waste will cost R900 to remove, compared to the R761.64 up to now. This is an increase of R18.71 per cent.
Most sewage charges will go up by 6 per cent. Basic charges will grow between 8.32 and 12.5 per cent.
The increase in assessment rates for residential properties will be 6.5 per cent, while the owners of industrial, business and commercial stands will have to pay 10 per cent more. The increase for farms is 7.18 per cent and, for mines, 5.38 per cent.
New tariffs will be brought in for the new financial year. The owners of vacant business, residential stands, those owned by government or the municipality and the stands owned by public benefit organisations will now also have to pay rates.
Indigents will still get six kilolitres of free water and 50 units of free electricity per month.
The full proposed budget can be read on the municipality’s website at https://www.merafong.gov.za/.
