Henties residents upset about rates

RATEPAYERS at Henties Bay are concerned over the ‘huge increase’ in municipal rates at the coastal town.

According to a media statement by the Civic Association of Henties Bay and the Henties Bay United Democratic Front (UDF) branch, ratepayers became aware of the rate increases when they received their accounts for July 2009.The organisations state that some municipal rates and tariffs have increased by 40 per cent, while others show a more than 100 per cent increase, compared to rates of the previous financial year.The Civic Association and UDF councillors have been tasked to address the situation as soon as possible and to inform the public how and when the issue will be resolved.’We are very much aware of the difficult economic times we experience presently. We therefore undertake to, in so far as it is within our capabilities, to restrict municipal expenditures to the absolute minimum necessary to provide the required municipal services and to exercise absolute financial control,’ the statement reads.