The City of Johannesburg’s Property Rates Policy review meeting was held at the Orlando East Communal Hall this past Saturday.
The meeting gave residents, especially pensioners a chance to give their inputs and recommendations to the property race policy.
As the current financial year draws to an end, the City of Joburg is visiting all regions holding public meetings seeking residents’ inputs to formulate the new rates policy.
The current financial year will end in June with the new one starting in July.
“We are mindful that our consumers and property owners are facing a crunch and are left with less money in their pockets to spend, hence we will be taking into account the current economic conditions.
“As a caring city, we will continue to seek to have a balancing approach when we take our proposals to the ratepayers,” said City of Joburg spokesperson Kgamanyane Maphologela.
The recent interest rates hike, and the slowdown in economic growth are taken in to consideration during the rates policy review.
The meeting encouraged indigent residents and pensioners to come forward and register for rebates offered under the current property rates policy.
The current policy offer a number of benefits to pensioners who are property owners.
Pensioners who are above 70 years and older, whose properties are not more than R2 million can qualify for a 100% rates rebate irrespective of their income.
A pensioner who is between 60 to 69 years-old, whose monthly income is lower than R7 850 and their property value not valued more than R 2 million also qualify for a 100% rebates, while a pensioner who is within the similar age category, earns higher than R 7 850 monthly income but lower than R 13 457 and their property not exceeding R 2 million can qualify for 50% rebates.
Child headed household families with a property value not exceeding R 2 million qualify for a 100% rebates as well.
