Special Rating Areas or SRA’s are gaining popularity in Nelson Mandela Bay.
At present Nelson Mandela Bay has THREE SRA’s that have been established:
- Richmond Hill SRA – the first SRA to be established
- Kini Bay
- Central SRA
Another TWO are in the works:
Previously known as a City Improvement District (CID), a Special Rated Area (SRA) is a specific geographic area within which property owners agree to pay for supplementary services. The Municipal Property Rates Act 2004, allowed for the formation of SRAs which empower property owners to implement additional services in their designated area. Municipalities are obligated to maintain existing service levels after an SRA is established.
Special Rates Association
A Special Rating Area is a geographic area within the jurisdiction of a Municipality, determined or to be determined by the Municipality Council in terms of Section 22 of the Municipal Rates Act 6 of 2004 as an area within which an additional rates amount shall be levied by the Municipality and paid over to a community owned Company for its sole use in improving aspects of service delivery within that geographic area.
In order for the any SRA to be established, a majority vote (50% + 1) in favour from the property owners of the proposed SRA is required. Ratepayer support and ultimately consent to the formation of this SRA plays an integral part in this process.
We know the following facts:
- If we wait for the Municipality to do what we, as a community require, we will wait for an indefinite period of time. The Municipality will always maintain that 80% of the revenue received from rates, will be spent in areas that are in need of basic services such as running water, toilets etc.
- Therefore we need to ask, what does the municipality spend on us? Is this fair? Yes and no.
- We agree that the poverty stricken areas need more attention and finances than the rest of the city but does that make us less worthy of services to the value of what we put into the system? Unfortunately we have to accept it or………file a class action against local Government? If it was only that simple. Should we, as a community, go that route, we will basically be fighting them with our own tax money. In other words, the Municipality will use OUR money to fight THEIR case in court.
- We are trying to find solutions to our lovely neighbourhood’s problems and surely it makes sense that we do it ourselves. Active citizenry. A community run area….WE get to say what happens to the money we spend on this service. We know exactly what we want done in our area. We have powerful, influential, and experienced members in our community that are very capable of running this non-profit organization.
- The final Board of Directors will be elected by the property owners of Central….you have the power to effect change.
- If you are a tenant in the property that you reside in, encourage your landlord to sign up. Everybody will benefit….property values will increase in time and tenants will feel safer.