As communities begin to accept responsibility for their own neighbourhood, members of taxpayers’ and resident associations are increasingly driving the establishment of Special Rating Areas (SRA’s). The establishment of Special Rating Areas is the promotion of public safety, and the improvement, maintenance, and upliftment of public areas within the boundaries of the designated special rating area.

Purpose

The purpose is to provide an additional or top-up service in respect of service delivery already defined in the constitution and the integrated development plan.

Special rating areas are not only confined to residential areas, but also refer to public areas situated within residential and business zones.

Property Owners

Property owners in a number of residential and business suburbs through the Western Cape have gained from the additional services made possible as a result of special rating areas, which uplifted degenerated areas.

Additional services

The additional municipal services typically include the provision of additional public safety, public area cleaning services, maintenance and/or upgrading of the urban public environment and/or infrastructure and social services that address social issues in the area.

Special Rating Areas is the municipal facility of levying an additional rate, payable by property owners of a defined area, for the improvement or upgrading of such an area.

Formal structure

SRAs provide a formal structure with which to finance additional services, as public safety within the special rating area, with specific reference to public areas within the designated special rating areas.

‘Top Up’ services

The ‘top up’ additional services provided by SRA’s enhance and supplement municipal services already provided by the municipality. Services offered within an SRA do not replace the services of the Municipality, but rather complement and supplement those services.

Individual SRA’s are unique in nature due to geographical settings, population density, zonings and property values.

The cost of the additional municipal services allows individual property owners to benefit from a well-managed designated special rating area including a shared sense of communal pride and social responsibility.

More information on the Special Rating Areas by-law and the procedure for establishing and managing an SRA is available on the Overstrand Municipality website http://www.overstrand.gov.za/en/documents/bylaws.

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