MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Media release by the ACDP:

"While the draft budget and other documentation was tabled in council in March 2020 these recommendations were made prior to the nationwide Lockdown and should be revised urgently.

"Comments and proposals on the current draft budget and the IDP close on the 30th of April and residents are encouraged to write to the municipal manager with their recommendations."

"Given that an economic contraction of between 5 and 10% is expected this year, residents and ratepayers will find it difficult to meet financial obligations. This coupled with attempts to save on electricity and water usage, which are the municipalities major revenue resource will affect income negatively. With this in mind the ACDP has requested that the budget committee and responsible municipal officials meet urgently to revise expected income, reconsider tariff and rate increases and to reprioritise and streamline expenditure.

"This should be done urgently so that interested parties can again be given an opportunity to comment on a draft document and not a finalised one.

"While measures taken and approved by all political parties in March 2020 to grant amnesties, allow interest free debt in certain instances and improve access to water and electricity will provide some relief this will not be sufficient to assist in the projected long term recovery.

"The ACDP invites residents and ratepayers that have access to the draft documentation to comment urgently on the draft proposals by submitting their recommendations to the municipal manager by no later than 30 April 2020."

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