Makana councillors have approved a budget with a 9% rates increase and no internal funding for the capital projects. The final 2014/15 Budget and Integrated Development Plan generated heated debate on Tuesday 24 June.
Makana councillors have approved a budget with a 9% rates increase and no internal funding for the capital projects. The final 2014/15 Budget and Integrated Development Plan generated heated debate on Tuesday 24 June.
Councillor Les Reynolds accused the municipality of putting Makana's residents under pressure. "I see this municipality is still working on a 75% recovery rate for this budget, despite my comments in the previous Council meeting," he said. "I am disappointed because I feel it is not good enough to settle for this mediocrity." He said Council inefficiency was responsible for the increase."
"In the last Council I said we should at least target an 85% collection rate, but there is nothing I can do now because this is going through," he said. "Actually, I am talking to a wall."
Acting municipal manager Themba Mnguni said councillors should note that the 75% collection rate was achieved only in the previous three months. "That is not who we are in Makana," he said. "We have been 65% for five years and it is only in the past three months that we are 75%."
Mnguni warned of a danger that the municipality was biting off more than they could and noted that there were no internally funded projects.
Reynolds insisted that his reservations with the budget and the rates increase be put on the record. "We need to take into account the economic conditions. We are knocking down the residents psychologically," he said.
Councillor Paul Notyawa said the municipality has not had a diligent CFO and Municipal Manager for a long time. "We know there was lack of integrity and capacity, but we are looking for something tangible, not a miracle," Notyawa said.
Notyawa agreed that 65% was not good enough and that "things were bad", adding that councillors must "see the light at the end of the tunnel".
Mayor Zamuxolo Peter also pleaded with the councillors to accept the budget as tabled. "The rates proposed are in the best interest of the people of Makana," said the Mayor in response to Reynolds's comments. "I am pleading with councillors to go along with us… we cannot have councillors saying they must be recorded against that."
ANC Chief Whip Julia Wells also proposed that the budget be adopted.
"The budget is realistic and we are tightening our belts to be financially responsible," she said. "We get a considerable amount of grant funding for projects." Council adopted and approved both documents.
