Update

KNYSNA NEWS - After noticing a negative effect on small businesses caused by its 2018/19 commercial water and sewerage tariffs, Knysna Municipality has offered property owners the chance to apply for a rebate.

At the end of the 2017/18 financial year, the municipality decided to change the application of a basic charge per premises to a basic annual charge per business or shop unit, for the 2018/19 financial year. A municipal notice explained that the fixed charge was payable by each property connected to the municipal water and sewerage networks.

This was to be charged per business or shop unit, per premises, per year – irrespective of the number of toilets/urinals or the size of the business/shop units on the premises.

However, during the budget process for the 2019/20 financial year, the municipality realised that the application of its new tariff plan had been negatively affecting small businesses.

Due to this, the council rectified the issues with the tariff plan, and after considering all representations received during the budget process, came to the conclusion that measures had to be taken to offer property owners relief.

Thus, the relief measures come in the form of select rebates based on property size.

For properties between 0-50m², a 100% rebate will be offered per square metre, for properties between 51-75m² a 75% rebate will be offered per square metre, and finally for properties between 76-100m² a 50% rebate will be offered per square metre.

In order to apply for these rebates, property owners are required to provide the municipality with a list of business units, shops, offices per erf accompanied by a breakdown of sizes.

Find out more
For more information, you can contact Mandisa Siko on 044 302 6558/6597, or via email on rates@knysna.gov.za.

Read a previous article here: Commercial property owners can apply for municipal rebates

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