The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Jolidee Matongo, tabled the draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Budget reports for information and public comment at the 47th ordinary sitting of the municipal Council yesterday, 24 March 2021.
The reports are a culmination of a consultative process, which considered ratepayers and other stakeholder inputs expressed during Community-Based Planning (CBP) sessions held recently.
These virtual engagements provided residents at ward-level an opportunity to directly make contributions towards the IDP and the Budget by expressing their service delivery aspirations as a community.
“Residents indicated priority areas we should focus on. Potholes must be filled, dysfunctional robots fixed, overgrown grass cut, housing provided to those in need and infrastructure projects implemented to create employment. Due to Covid-19 lockdown and its consequent economic downturn, a balance is needed between what is realistic for the City financially and what residents hope the City can provide,” said MMC Matongo.
He said a big percentage of the City’s annual operational and capital expenditure is funded from property rates tax levied on domestic and commercial properties. There are also service charges on electricity, water, sewerage and refuse. The City also earns interest from fines, forfeits and penalties. A marginal portion is earned from operating grants. To remain financial sustainable, tariff increases have to be considered.
“The City is not oblivious to the current economic environment, made worse by the current pandemic. We would have preferred to table a zero-increase in tariff proposals, but should we go this route, the City will place its own liquidity at risk. It is also important that we exercise financial prudency to meet service delivery imperatives expected by ratepayers and residents.
“Residents can still give us feedback in relation to tariff proposals in the reports. The post-tabling public consultation process, as stipulated by the Municipal Systems Act, will allow residents and stakeholders to comment on the draft budget and IDP within the next 30 days after the reports have served at Council. Stakeholders will be consulted through various engagement methods.
“We are determined to continue to improve the daily lived experience of our residents and that is why we need residents to give us inputs on the draft budget and IDP. The feedback will also shape what will ultimately be the final budget to be approved by Council before the conclusion of the current fiscal year. It is important we work together as the Council and residents to strike a balance for the City’s future,” said MMC Matongo.
The report will be available on the City’s website from Friday, 26 March 2021. Residents may review and submit their comments by no later than 8 April 2021. Public participation meetings will also be hosted from 8 April 2021 to 5 May 2021. Meeting details and links to virtual sessions will be available on the City’s website: www.joburg.org.za from 1 April 2021.
The City has two dedicated emails for the IDP and Budget: budgetinputs@joburg.org.za and idpinput@joburg.org.za. The closing date for emailed submissions is 8 May 2021.
25/03/2021