Objection to Two Key Aspects of the Budget
From "Comment on the City’s draft Budget for 2026-2027"
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Good morning,
I wish to strongly object to two aspects of the City’s 2026/27 budget:
- Fixed charges linked to property valuations
This policy unfairly penalises households like mine — a pensioner supporting elderly parents and a dependent son — by tying essential service charges to “paper wealth” in property values. Rising valuations do not translate into income, yet they inflate rates bills beyond affordability. Fixed charges should be based on connection size and property size, not market forces. The City should also absorb the cleaning fee into general rates and rein in salary costs driven by SALGA increases.
- Indigent relief framework
While support for vulnerable residents is vital, exempting indigent households from all utility payments is unsustainable. A shrinking pool of ratepayers cannot indefinitely subsidise a growing base of non‑payers. Moreover, when services are free, they are undervalued, undermining conservation appeals. Even a nominal contribution from all households would foster responsibility and fairness.
Conclusion
The current policies risk collapsing the system by overburdening ratepayers and discouraging responsible consumption. I urge the City to adopt a more equitable, rational and sustainable approach.