Ratepayers in Nelson Mandela Bay who have received incorrect valuations or have been incorrectly recategorised should not be bullied into paying exorbitant taxes by the municipality.
In a letter addressed to NMB Chief Financial Officer, Mr Selwyn Thys, the DA NMB Mayoral Candidate, Retief Odendaal, requested that ratepayers who received a rates-increase of more than 30% and have objected or appealed the outcome of the General Valuation process, be allowed to defer the payment of the increased portion until the objection/appeals processes were finalised.
Thys has now stated in official correspondence that this will not be allowed on a blanket basis but that in specific instances, where in the opinion of the municipality obvious errors did occur, such an arrangement will be made.
Ratepayers who have had exorbitant annual rates increases due to inflated valuations or incorrect rating categories are encouraged to make use of the aforesaid arrangement.
The request for a hold to be placed on an account can be send to customercare@mandelametro.gov.za
Thys has also given clarity regarding the introduction of a valuation query fee. He indicated that in the event that a property was substantially incorrectly valued and the owner did not object, property owners can submit a request for a review with supporting documentation to the Municipal Valuer. In instances where errors occurred, no fee will be payable.
There is already a massive rates burden on existing ratepayers considering the fact that there is such a small base of ratepayers. Our rating factors remain some of the highest of all metropolitan municipalities in the country. The municipality has to do everything in its ability to ensure that it assists those ratepayers that elect to make use of their legislated right to object.
“If you require any assistance with your rates account, please do not hesitate to email us at objectNMBvaluation@da.org.za,” concluded Odendaal.
