Nelson Mandela Bay residents could soon be paying 13% more for electricity in the 2019/2020 financial year, with increases of between 7% and 7.7% for other municipal services.
City councillors on Thursday debated the R12.6bn capital and operating budget tabled by the executive mayor, Mongameli Bobani.
He said the budget was historic, being the first one "under my watch as the executive mayor" and secondly because the budget seeks to address "a number of serious challenges, made worse by leadership inadequacies after the August 2016 elections".
Mayor Bobani also said that to take the Metro forward requires sacrifices "from all of us".
"Unfortunately, increases must be effected to comply with national requirements and to enable us to implement our vision," he said.
The proposed tariff increases are as follows:
- Property Rates Tax: 7.7%
- Water: 7.5%
- Sanitation: 7.5%
- Refuse: 7.5%; and,
- Electricity: 13.04% (On average pending NERSA approval).
Council will reconvene on 12 June to adopt the budget.
