Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa on Thursday tabled a total operating budget of R17.9 billion and capital budget of R3.2 billion for 2011/12
Total revenue over the medium-term was R66.3 billion, constituted by R19.1 billion for 2011/12, R22.2 billion for 2012/13 and R24.9 billion for 2013/14, he told the council.
Operating spending for the medium-term equated to R60.6 billion. “This will be a tool to consolidate service delivery and accelerate job creation,” he said.
Total spending increased by 18.1% against the 2010/11 adjustment budget, and by 20.5% against the 2010/11 approved budget.
In 2011/12, the agriculture and environmental management department would get about R1.7 billion, city planning R197.2 million, community safety R1.1 billion, corporate and shared services R1.1 billion, economic development R70.2 million, emergency services, R378.6 million, and financial services R808.9 million.
General and assessment rates would get R732.9 million, health and social development R310.9 million, housing and sustainable human settlement development R410.9 million, the office of the executive mayor, chief whip, speaker and city manager R506,4 million, public works and infrastructure development R8.9 billion, transport and roads R1.2 billion, and sport, recreation, arts and culture R240.7 million.
The budget pointed to significant increases in revenue and spending.
On tariffs, Ramokgopa said the approach to the tariff regime was a bold one that might not be popular with certain sections of the city, but which, when everything logical and rational was considered, was necessary and unavoidable.
The expanded City of Tshwane, after the incorporation of the Metsweding district municipality, faced the problem of three different tariff structures for property rates, electricity, refuse removal, water and sanitation.
“To ensure the financial sustainability of the municipality and greater compliance with the Municipal Property Rates Act of 2004, a single tariff has been recommended for the new City of Tshwane.”
The budget incorporated the proposed unified property rates.
“I want to emphasise that the proposed rates have been calculated in terms of the law, that is, the regulation that points to the actual formula.
“We can be expedient and populist. Or we can do the right thing, do our business in terms of the law, and therefore build one city, with one system. We choose the latter,” he said.
The rich would unfortunately continue to subsidise the poor.
Apart from the huge investments that would be made through capital projects, the city would continue to help the poorest sections cope with the hardships of poverty.
For the past three years the health and social development department had spearheaded the registration of indigent households to help them with social packages that would cushion their hardships. The packages helped households pay for municipal services. The city provided 12 kilolitres of water and 100 kilowatts of electricity for free per month. These quantities were twice the amounts recommended by national government.
“It is our intention to register 150,000 indigent households by 2016.”
These would be 90,000, 110,000 and 130,000 households for the 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years respectively.
"The huge injection into the capital budget will assist us to create jobs in all our regions," he said.
“This will come in the form of temporary jobs as we roll out various projects. In other cases, such as the call centre in the North, we will realise more jobs, especially for young people who will gain valuable skills.”
The budget also pointed to the commitment government had to redressing past imbalances.
The allocation to the regions would see Hammanskraal, Suurman, Skampaneng, Majaneng, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa, Atteridgeville, Steve Bikoville, Ekangala, Refilwe, Olivenhoutbosch, in fact all disadvantaged communities, get rehabilitated roads, better streetlights and quality water services.
“As we always say, we will continue to develop the north, and now the far east of the city, while maintaining the south and the east. This is the development that our people need. We will not fail them. Through prudent and careful planning we should be in a position to steer this ship in the right direction,” he said.
Tshwane budget tabled
Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa on Thursday tabled a total operating budget of R17.9 billion and capital budget of R3.2 billion for 2011/12
Total revenue over the medium-term was R66.3 billion, constituted by R19.1 billion for 2011/12, R22.2 billion for 2012/13 and R24.9 billion for 2013/14, he told the council.
Operating spending for the medium-term equated to R60.6 billion. “This will be a tool to consolidate service delivery and accelerate job creation,” he said.
Total spending increased by 18.1% against the 2010/11 adjustment budget, and by 20.5% against the 2010/11 approved budget.
In 2011/12, the agriculture and environmental management department would get about R1.7 billion, city planning R197.2 million, community safety R1.1 billion, corporate and shared services R1.1 billion, economic development R70.2 million, emergency services, R378.6 million, and financial services R808.9 million.
General and assessment rates would get R732.9 million, health and social development R310.9 million, housing and sustainable human settlement development R410.9 million, the office of the executive mayor, chief whip, speaker and city manager R506,4 million, public works and infrastructure development R8.9 billion, transport and roads R1.2 billion, and sport, recreation, arts and culture R240.7 million.
The budget pointed to significant increases in revenue and spending.
On tariffs, Ramokgopa said the approach to the tariff regime was a bold one that might not be popular with certain sections of the city, but which, when everything logical and rational was considered, was necessary and unavoidable.
The expanded City of Tshwane, after the incorporation of the Metsweding district municipality, faced the problem of three different tariff structures for property rates, electricity, refuse removal, water and sanitation.
“To ensure the financial sustainability of the municipality and greater compliance with the Municipal Property Rates Act of 2004, a single tariff has been recommended for the new City of Tshwane.”
The budget incorporated the proposed unified property rates.
“I want to emphasise that the proposed rates have been calculated in terms of the law, that is, the regulation that points to the actual formula.
“We can be expedient and populist. Or we can do the right thing, do our business in terms of the law, and therefore build one city, with one system. We choose the latter,” he said.
The rich would unfortunately continue to subsidise the poor.
Apart from the huge investments that would be made through capital projects, the city would continue to help the poorest sections cope with the hardships of poverty.
For the past three years the health and social development department had spearheaded the registration of indigent households to help them with social packages that would cushion their hardships. The packages helped households pay for municipal services. The city provided 12 kilolitres of water and 100 kilowatts of electricity for free per month. These quantities were twice the amounts recommended by national government.
“It is our intention to register 150,000 indigent households by 2016.”
These would be 90,000, 110,000 and 130,000 households for the 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years respectively.
"The huge injection into the capital budget will assist us to create jobs in all our regions," he said.
“This will come in the form of temporary jobs as we roll out various projects. In other cases, such as the call centre in the North, we will realise more jobs, especially for young people who will gain valuable skills.”
The budget also pointed to the commitment government had to redressing past imbalances.
The allocation to the regions would see Hammanskraal, Suurman, Skampaneng, Majaneng, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa, Atteridgeville, Steve Bikoville, Ekangala, Refilwe, Olivenhoutbosch, in fact all disadvantaged communities, get rehabilitated roads, better streetlights and quality water services.
“As we always say, we will continue to develop the north, and now the far east of the city, while maintaining the south and the east. This is the development that our people need. We will not fail them. Through prudent and careful planning we should be in a position to steer this ship in the right direction,” he said.
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