Apart from electricity tariffs to be increased by 5,9%, taxpayers within the Makhado Municipal area will see an overall increase of 6% on all other rates and tariffs as from July 1 this year. This follows Council’s approval of their R218 912 251 operational budget for the 2006/7 financial year.

This year’s operational budget, tabled during a glittering function at the Makhado Show Grounds, shows an overall increase of roughly 5,2% from that of the operational budget for 2005/6. Meanwhile, the capital estimates for the 2006/7 financial year remain virtually the same although slightly less than that of the previous financial year (R41 638 251) at R41 290 190. Although not much, the good news is that money is available for the upgrading of the town’s insufficient sewage system as well as the repair of the town’s roads which, as Mayor Glory Mashaba pointed out during her speech, at present boasts some 2 000 potholes.

Again the municipality’s exorbitant salary bill (personnel estimates) raised a few eyebrows.

The municipality’s salary bill for the next financial year will be R90 988 168, which is 41,56% of the total operational expenditure budget. This is a tremendous increase on the current estimate, which is R85,3million (39,9%). Cllr Mashaba said that they have, without a doubt, exceeded that accepted norm of 30% to 35%, which has been set by National Treasury, but defended the amount by saying that the increase came as a result of the absorption of temporary staff, traffic personnel, the provision of a possible 6% salary increase, the filling of critical vacant positions and the application of the AA Tariff on travel expenditure.

(A more detailed breakdown of Council’s budget will appear in next week’s edition)