Following the 2018 General Valuations (GV) Roll which saw increases in property valuations, the City has sought possible relief measures.
As a result, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, said the multi-party government will propose a change in the tariff policy in May this year to increase the residential property rebate from R200 000 to R350 000 for all residential properties, subject to Council approval.
“This will reduce the percentage increase felt by our residents in rates payable when the new GV comes into effect in July 2018. This will mean that no residential property owner will pay rates on the first R350 000 of their property valuation,” Mashaba said.
Mashaba said the scheduling between the publication of the new GV and the tabling of the City’s draft budget did not give the City enough time to make these considerations. “Having analysed the impact of the new GV on residential rates, we have initiated this move subject to Council approval in May 2018,” said Mashaba.
He said the City should consider the strain on household incomes under the current economic climate.
“The impact of the new GV means that residents would be hit with significant increases arising from five years of property value increases in one month. As a part of the public consultation process that informs the budget development, the reaction to the 2018 GV must be considered,” added Mashaba.
He said the impact of the new valuations should be softened to reduce the blow on residential household incomes. He added that the City should focus on those who can pay but do not.
“The move to increase the universal property rebate will soften the impact of the new GV by increasing the value of the residential property which is exempt from rates. Simultaneously it will provide relief to poor households which will be entirely exempt from residential property rates for properties valued at less than R350 000,” Mashaba said.
The City’s efforts are expected to provide relief in combination with other measures tabled in the City’s draft budget, including increasing the pensioner rebate from R2 million to R2.5 million and the Extended Social Package from R400 000 to R450 000.
“We must implement these measures to ensure that the City’s historical inefficiencies don’t burden our residents. It’s our intention to treat our residents with respect, particularly while we work to overcome the mess inherited from the previous administration,” concluded Mashaba.
