Property owners in Oshakati town would, as of July this year, pay 5 percent more in property tax and assessment rates. Households would also pay an additional 5 percent for their water and municipal services rates and tariffs.
The property tax and assessment rates increases are for both residential and business properties within Oshakati town.
The increases, which the council says are “in accordance with the national inflation rates”, were announced after the council’s approval of N$389.4 million budget for the 2015/16 financial year.
The council’s financial year ends on June 30.
The Mayor of Oshakati, Onesimus Shilunga, has emphasised the need for the residents to pay the council’s dues on time for it to continue rendering the required services.
The N$389.4 million budget dedicates a lion’s share of the funds towards the town’s economic development plan, which includes the town’s flood mitigation plan, following the severe deluge that submerged Oshakati town in the last five to six years.
For this, N$20 million has been assigned to the construction of a dyke around the town and deepening of the Okatana River.
At least N$32 million has been set aside for the improvement of roads to bitumen standard.
For the provision of land in the town, the council would service and install essential services such as sewerage, electricity and water at Okaku Kiipupu, Extension 16, Ehenye and Ekuku areas.
The council plans to complete the servicing of 270 erven at Okaku Kiipupu alone, where the council has already spent N$39 million of the N$50 million budget allocation to that area. The surveying of the Ompumbu residential area will be carried out at a cost of N$4 million, while N$15 million has been set aside for the servicing of Onawa location. Money would also go towards the constructing of ablution facilities at the cemetery, and the general beautification of the town.
According to Shilunga, some of the capital projects catered for in the current budget are a continuation of projects that were started last year.