Context:
The methodology applied by the valuation contractors employed by GM is still not clear, with large sections of property owners deeply unhappy. Equally worrying are the tariffs being applied and the associated increased cost to citizens with fixed incomes.
Previous Membership Concern Rating
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Current Membership Concern Rating
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The following graphs represent the average trends but significant individual variations still remain problematic:
Outcomes:
- The relief on rates is being expanded for pensioners and lower-income groups in the 2025 budget, albeit marginally;
- The reevaluation of properties in 2026 was announced during the IDP reviews, and GRPA will proactively engage in the process.
Actions Planned:
- An analysis/report, based on the valuation rolls before and after the latest assessments, with the associated revenue streams, remains outstanding. A request for information formally submitted to enable individual owners to understand the methods remains outstanding;
- A panel of advisors will be established in advance to proposed revaluation project to enable early engagements;
- Information as to indigent and pensioners’ discounts on rates and service charges will be distributed to members.
6 Responses
Residents of George rates and taxes should be subsidized against this influx of people from the north which give the municipality Carte Blanche to inflate our services.People over sixty should also get a % rebate on their accounts.House prices in George are skyrocketting(which is good for our local market) but our pensioners (across the economic specture) are bearing the costly increments for these semigrations
Sam Crowley
I agree , many people moved into the area before the property boom and are now affected by the high prices created by the influx of high earnings individuals to the area. The property values are affected, leading to high rates.
Sam Crowley
May I come in here from the side. As a resident it is frustrating that so many street names are just missing on most streets in the CBD. With all the visitors and us as residents replacing street names would make getting to places much easier.
Charel
Lets lobby the municipality to exempt pensioners from property rates, they can pay for everything else at discounted rated. Criteria being the pensioner must have been a resident of George for x years
Or else move back to municipal evaluations for properties, linked to actual purchase price of the property and not market rate as it is
Mo’Afrika
I agree , many people moved into the area before the property boom and are now affected by the high prices created by the influx of high earnings individuals to the area. The property values are affected, leading to high rates.
Desmond
Rates and taxes is the main concern. House prices have escalated across town by more than double within the last 5 years alone. I obviously understand the sliding scale system, but I am concerned with the sustainability of its implementation. My bill have increased with roughly 300% over the last 6 years. I think most of us have suffered the same fate, not because we have upgraded our properties so much, but simply because of the desirability of our location, simplebsupply and demand. None of us have had salary increases of 300% over the same period. There in lies the problem. Especially for retirees with no option to supplement their income. With a massive across the board escalation of property values, even in the traditionally “less desirable” locations, George municipality should have the luxury of adapting its R&T policy to be less impactful on the tax payers which are already overburdened. I just don’t see that discretion being applied.
Jasper