Joburg Budget speech reveals tariff hike
JOBURG – Johannesburg City has been allocated an overall annual budget of R52.6 billion.
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Johannesburg Finance MMC Geoffrey Makhubo delivered the 2015/2016 budget speech in Sandton on 26 May.
Makhubo advised consumers to take practical steps within their own households to reduce their monthly bills starting from 1 July.
The city has been allocated an overall annual budget of R52.6 billion.
What residents should know
• Electricity tariffs will now increase by 12.19 per cent.
• Property rates and electricity tariffs are expected to increase by 6 and 12 per cent respectively.
• Water and sewerage tariffs are expected to increase by 14 per cent while refuse removal is due to go up by eight per cent.
• Refuse removal services will be increased by 8 per cent for domestic, business and commercial customers –the proposed tariffs are cost-reflective and will ensure adequate funding of Pikitup’s operations.
The good news
• A subsidised water tariff structure is in place for consumers on prepaid meters
• All households in Johannesburg receive 6 kilolitres of free water every month
• Consumers; pensioners with a gross monthly income of less than R7,850 will receive 100 percent rebates on property rates.
• Residential properties valued at less than R200 000 receive free refuse removal services
• Child-headed households with property value not exceeding R2 million receive 100 per cent rebate on property rates.
• R200-million has been set aside for the electrification of informal settlements in 2015/16.
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