𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐜 - 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔/𝟐𝟕 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 Mossel Bay Municipality's 2026/2027 budget focuses on maintaining reliable service delivery, investing in infrastructure and supporting future growth while remaining financially sustainable. Vikcy Basson - Manager - Budget and Reporting explains. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝? From 1 July 2026, the following increases apply: ⚡ Electricity: 8.5% 💧 Water: 5.8% 🏠 Property Rates: 5.8% 🗑️ Refuse Removal: 5.5% 🚽 Sewerage: 5.5% Electricity remains the main driver of increases, largely due to Eskom tariff adjustments that fall outside municipal control. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? The impact varies depending on property value and monthly consumption. For an average middle-income household: Total household account increase: approximately 7.3%. Excluding electricity, the increase is approximately 5.7%. This again highlights that electricity costs account for most of the increase experienced by residents. 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞? Yes. Residents can reduce their monthly electricity basic charge by selecting a lower supply capacity: 38 Amp supply = 50% reduction in the basic charge. 45 Amp supply = 25% reduction in the basic charge. This option is suitable for households that do not require high electrical demand from multiple appliances at the same time. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭? The Municipality provides assistance through several indigent categories based on: Property value. Household income. Disability-linked household needs. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞: ✅ Free basic water ✅ Free basic electricity ✅ Free refuse removal ✅ Free sewerage services ✅ Relief from water and electricity basic charges ✅ Property rates relief 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬? Pensioner households may qualify for rebates depending on total household income. Available rebates include: Up to 50% rebate for lower-income pensioner households. Up to 30% rebate for qualifying households in higher income bands. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨: Property rates. Sewerage charges. Electricity basic charges. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲? Applications for: Indigent support Pensioner rebates can be submitted through Debtpack offices, together with the required supporting documentation. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 The 2026/2027 budget continues to prioritise infrastructure investment and reliable service delivery, while offering support measures for qualifying households. Although most tariff increases are between 5.5% and 5.8%, electricity remains the largest contributor to household increases due to Eskom-driven costs. The Municipality has therefore retained various relief measures, including indigent support, pensioner rebates and options to reduce electricity basic charges. Source: Mossel Bay Municipality 2026/2027 Budget Q&A.