Keetmans raises tariffs to improve financial situation

THE price of a number of basic services at Keetmanshoop is going up, and so is the cost of land.

In its latest budget report, the Town Council says it wants to increase its revenue to N$31 million this financial year. The budget makes no provision for salary increases – a hot issue at the town – in its N$30 million budget for the 2006-2007 financial year, however.It has upped its tariff for water usage by 12 per cent, although the basic charge for water provision will remain unchanged.The sanitation tariff has been increased from N$65 to N$70 a month, but pensioners will only have to pay N$40.The council has also increased the price of land in Keetmanshoop.A business plot will now cost N$43,75 per square metre instead of N$35.The council says the increase will lift the town’s property market significantly and it expects to collect about N$10 million a year from property sales and taxes.Assessment rates have been increased by between five and 10 per cent, depending on the suburb.Sewerage, cemetery and billboard tariffs were not increased.The council has also introduced a monthly fire levy that will cost residents N$9,25 per property.It is expected that the council will generate N$350 000 from the fire levy.In the past, the council’s fire brigade was subsidised by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, but this subsidy was stopped in 2001.As a result, the council had to foot the whole fire brigade bill.A total of N$108 000 was set aside for the Municipal Assisted Training Programme, while N$100 000 was allocated for a staff bursary scheme.Municipal workers who have demanded a 17 per cent salary increase will be disappointed, however.There is no budget for increases.According to the budget report, the town spends 36 per cent of its operational budget on personnel – exceeding the ministerial guideline of 35 per cent.The council recently announced that it would have to cut jobs to make ends meet.An unusually high payroll was singled out as one of the factors contributing to the council’s financial problems.Municipal workers recently demanded a 17 per cent increase after hearing that the town council had doubled their own monthly allowances.The budget makes no provision for salary increases – a hot issue at the town – in its N$30 million budget for the 2006-2007 financial year, however.It has upped its tariff for water usage by 12 per cent, although the basic charge for water provision will remain unchanged.The sanitation tariff has been increased from N$65 to N$70 a month, but pensioners will only have to pay N$40.The council has also increased the price of land in Keetmanshoop.A business plot will now cost N$43,75 per square metre instead of N$35.The council says the increase will lift the town’s property market significantly and it expects to collect about N$10 million a year from property sales and taxes.Assessment rates have been increased by between five and 10 per cent, depending on the suburb.Sewerage, cemetery and billboard tariffs were not increased.The council has also introduced a monthly fire levy that will cost residents N$9,25 per property.It is expected that the council will generate N$350 000 from the fire levy.In the past, the council’s fire brigade was subsidised by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, but this subsidy was stopped in 2001.As a result, the council had to foot the whole fire brigade bill.A total of N$108 000 was set aside for the Municipal Assisted Training Programme, while N$100 000 was allocated for a staff bursary scheme.Municipal workers who have demanded a 17 per cent salary increase will be disappointed, however.There is no budget for increases.According to the budget report, the town spends 36 per cent of its operational budget on personnel – exceeding the ministerial guideline of 35 per cent.The council recently announced that it would have to cut jobs to make ends meet.An unusually high payroll was singled out as one of the factors contributing to the council’s financial problems.Municipal workers recently demanded a 17 per cent increase after hearing that the town council had doubled their own monthly allowances.