Some relief for indigent and pensioners

George residents will be coughing up between 4% and 6% more for municipal services, but at the same time the nearly R5b budget approved by the George Council on Friday 30 May does offer a little relief for indigent and low-income residents, as well as property-owning pensioners.

- Alida de Beer

In her budget speech, Mayor Jackie von Brandis said in light of the current economic conditions, new measures were put in place to assist these groups. One is the indigent support programme that introduced two different levels for indigent subsidies. On level 1, the qualifying threshold has been upped from R5 460 to R6 000, and these households will receive a 100% indigent subsidy. Level 2 indigent households - with an income of between R6 001 and R9 000 - qualify for a 50% subsidy.

Another newcomer is that indigent pensioners will no longer be required to re-register for their subsidy each year.