CITY OF CAPE TOWN
VIEWS
Cape Town Ratepayers Urged to Look at Total Account
Recent Company News
- Road closures during World Cup
- Athlone Cooling Towers to be Demolished
- 10 Things Travelers Need when Visiting Cape Town
- Final Draw Controlled Access and Exclusion Zone
- Preliminary testing starts on stadium lights
- City of Cape Town rated as top service provider
- Slow and steady saves the day – and the pay
- City events add to Cape Town Green Week momentum
- Housing challenge met through successful partnering
- New pilot project to reduce water loss
- Cape Town prepares for Diwali celebrations
CITY URGES RATEPAYERS TO LOOK AT TOTAL ACCOUNT
Due to the implementation of the Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004, Council could no longer recover some of the Refuse Removal and Sanitation costs based on the municipal valuation of the properties. Some of those costs had to be allocated to the rates expenditure for 2007/8 and that caused the new rates accounts to have increased higher than expected. On the other hand, the Refuse Removal charges reduced and this also reduced the amount of VAT raised on the municipal account.
The only justifiable comparison is therefore to compare the Total Municipal Account (TMA) increase or decrease to determine whether the account increased and by how much. Some of the high increases are caused by huge water consumptions and if this can be managed, those accounts will become more affordable.
If the water consumption is already low, the cause will be due to the high increase in the municipal valuation of the property. If you have objected to the valuation, but the invoice is based on the valuation to which you objected, the account adjustment will be made as from 1 July 2007. The adjustment will be based on a review of the valuation of the property, which may result in a reduction or an increase in the valuation. It is therefore important to be realistic when lodging an appeal. Should you still want to object to the valuation, you should motivate this.
Residents who cannot afford the TMA increases and who lodged objections must please visit any of City Finance’s contact centres to make arrangements to pay at least the rates based on the valuation suggested in their objections.
Council recognised the large increases in residential valuations as opposed to other types of properties and increased the residential rebate from 30% to 46%, increased the qualifying monthly household income for the Senior Citizen Rates Rebate by 66% to R5 000 and increased the indigent grant from R20 to R30 per month for all properties valued at R199 000 or less. Residential properties valued up to R300 000 qualify for a reduction in the refuse bin charges, whereas all residential properties receive 6 kl of water per month free of charge and a number of households are managing within that level. Households purchasing on average 400 kWh or less electricity per month, will receive a further 50 kWh per month free of charge.
Households with a total monthly income of R1 740 or less per month can apply for the Senior Citizen Rates Rebate as well as the R30 indigent grant irrespective of whether they meet the age and/or valuation qualifications.
Residents who cannot afford their TMA amount after benefiting from all the above assistance and who cannot reduce consumption of water and electricity any further, should think carefully before putting the property on the market. They should first determine how much they need to borrow to meet the year’s municipal charges and by how much the selling price would increase if they delay selling their properties by one year. In most cases, it would make financial sense to hold on to the property for as long as possible as that will give the owner more capital growth than the cost of holding the property. Before taking such important decisions, please seek appropriate financial guidance.
CITY PROVIDES TEMPORARY RESPITE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS ON NEW RATES TARIFFS
The City is aware that, in certain circumstances, the recent re-valuation of properties has resulted in property owners receiving rates accounts that are higher than those previously received.
It should be noted that the general valuation, which has been implemented throughout the city, was based on the market values of properties and it is an established fact that, in certain areas of the city, market values have escalated considerably more than in other areas.
In cases where the increase in rates has caused financial hardship to property owners because of their financial constraints the City will endeavour to assist them as follows:
* where an objection to the valuation has been lodged and the owner is experiencing difficulty in paying the increased rates amount prior to the objection being resolved, the City will assist by allowing the payment of a lower rates amount (depending the outcome of a financial assessment) until the objection is resolved.
* where no objection to the valuation has been lodged and the owner is experiencing difficulty in paying the increased rates amount, the City encourages such owners to visit any of City Finances’ contact centres (as shown on the list below) in order to obtain assistance by way of an informal arrangement until the end of the current financial year i.e. 30 June 2008.
Property owners who are experiencing hardship and who wish to make use of the above assistance offered by the City are encouraged to visit the contact centres and to bring with them the following documentation:
* proof of total household income i.e. pay slips of all who reside on the property as well as proof of rental income;
* if there are no pay slips, affidavits to this effect must be provided;
* copies of identity documents (certified);
* bank statements from the last three months.
These are temporary arrangements to allow property owners time to make the necessary financial adjustments resulting from the increased valuations.
Attached is a list of contact centres where arrangements can be made:
Location | Name | Phone Number |
Cape Town Civic | Ernest Plaatjies | 021 400 3522 |
Plumstead | John Powell | 021 710 8000 |
Fezeka | Ernest Plaatjies | 021 400 3522 |
Bellville Civic | Deon van Zyl | 021 918 2203 |
Milnerton Pienaar Road | Freddie Carstens | 021 550 2621 |
Brackenfell Civic | Sunelle Paxton | 021 9801361 |
Strand | Sam Kannemeyer | 021 850 4230 |
Khayelitsha – Stocks and Stocks Building | Shaheed Christiaans | 021 360 1146 |
Durbanville Civic | Agnes van Eck | 021 970 3085 |
In the case where you cannot get hold of one of the above senior staff you can phone Monica Kibido on 021 400 3695 or Jan van Rooyen on 021 900 1598.
END
ISSUED BY: DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATION CITY OF CAPE TOWN TEL: 021 400 2201
Date Posted: 2007-08-01
Posted By: CITY OF CAPE TOWN
Listed under these Business Listing Categories: Business services & consultants,
More Company News
- Cape Town prepares for Diwali celebrations
- City awarded for promoting the right to access to information
- New unit in dogged pursuit of illegal drugs
- Deadline looms for public comments on Spatial Development Framework
- City scoops green prize
- Welcome to Cape Town !
- Cape Town opens its doors with accommodation policy
- Name our new stadium
- Cape Town stadium workers catch soccer fever
- Green Point Stadium Visitor Centre closes
- Learner Drivers Fail to Keep Test Appointments
- City’s new Climate Change Think-Tank to lead local interventions
- City signs Cape Town Responsible Tourism Charter
- 2010 Green Goal programme firmly on track
- Cruise ships take advantage of Cup
- Cape Town Tourists Have New Option
- Cape Town, South Africa, City of Beauty and History
- Gold Reef CEO Pushing for Another CT Metropole Casino
- Holiday in the City of Cape Town
- Review of Cape Town Fashion Week
- Cape Town Attracting the Celebrities
- SA in Homeless Soccer World Cup
- The H1N1 Virus - Questions and Answers
- Cape Town Leads the Way in Education
- City of Cape Town Reviews Annual Developement Plan
- Cape Town City Closely Monitors Adverse Weather
- City of Cape Town CCV Camera's Increased
- City of Cape Town Agrees to Security Presence
- Cape Town on Track with Broadband Project
- Cape Town Sets its Sights on an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
- City of Cape Town an Independant Republic
- Must-Do's While in Cape Town
- Cape Town Hosts Final Draw for 2010
- 5 Attractions for Cape Town
- Cape Town - City of Beauty and History
- Accommodation in Cape Town: What to Look for
- Cape Town, a Tourist Mecca
- Table Mountain Shortlisted for New7Wonders
- Kgalema Motlanthe Speaks at AIDS Conference
- UCT Designs AIDS Vaccine
- Service Delivery in The Cape Improving
- Cape Gets Thumbs Up From A-G
- Cape Town Best In Africa
- CT Traffic Department Introduces the Ghost Squad
- 2010 Stadium Workers Strike
- Save Electricity
- Cape rapid transit system Gets The Go Ahead
- Cape Town CBD's New Office and Retail Space
- Cape Town Entrepreneurs Expand International Trade
- The City of Tape Town Promotes Economic Growth
- Cape Town - The Most Beautiful Holiday Destination
- Cape Town is 3rd Best Tourist city
- A Preface Of Cape Town
- Cape Town - Wealth of Attractions
- Cape Town A Growing Tourist Destination
- Holiday in Cape Town - The Beauty Of Africa
- SERVICE DELIVERY CONTINUES DURING SAMWU STRIKE
- City to Sign Lease and Sale Agreements to Private Sector of Owned Industrial Land in Atlantis
- BUMPER FESTIVE SEASON FOR CITY IN SNAP SURVEY
- DEPUTY MAYOR TO WELCOME COMPETITORS IN THE HOT ROD WORLD CUP
- COUNCIL APPROVES R300 MILLION FOR A FIBRE OPTIC NETWORK
- City Terminates Tourist Attraction Greenmarket Square Lease
- CITY TO HOST THIRD PROPERTY DEVELOPERS’ FORUM
- Sprinboks Set to Paint the City Green and Gold
- Cape Town Hotels World-Beater Status
- CAPE TOWN AS CRUISE LINER BASE
- GUGULETHU YOUTH SPORTS PROJECT FROM MONACO
- MARATHON ON CAPE TOWN’S ROADS
- CAPE TOWN PROGRESS ON PROPERTY VALUATIONS
- AN EVENTS COMMISSION FOR CAPE TOWN– A FIRST IN SA
- R1.34 MILLION FOR CAPE TOWN TABLE MOUNTAIN SAFETY
- Hundreds of Cape Flats Entrepreneurs Benefit From Business Vouchers
- Cape Town Ratepayers Urged to Look at Total Account
- Cape Town City Review
- Cape Town has Positive Response to Renaming Process
- Cape Town Renaming Process in Second Phase
- Cape Town Best City in Middle East and Africa Region
- Most Capetonians Support 2010 Stadium
- 2010 Stadium Redevelopment on Track
- Cape Town Street renaming Begins
- 2010 Triggers Massive Infrastructure Growth
- CAPE TOWN IS SA’S CALL CENTRE CAPITAL
- Cape Town Tourism Train Route
- Cape Town Cleanest City in SA
- 2010 Green Point Stadium Tender awarded
- Cape Town Tourism's visitor safety plan
- Cape Town property values and rates
- CITY OF CAPE TOWN TO PURSUE MUNICIPAL BONDS
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() Accommodation
![]() Foreign Exchange
![]() Directory
![]() Fax 2 Email
![]() Finance
![]() Furniture
![]() Online Casino
![]() Restaurant
![]() Shop Online
![]() Study IT Online
![]() Web Design
![]() Weddings
![]() Work from Home
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
Company News
|
||
![]() |
![]() |