Lekwa Local Municipality 2013/14 - Co-operative Governance and ...

prescribed policy guidelines. The Council also recognizes that many residents can simply not afford the cost of fullprovision and for this reason the Council will endeavor to ensure affordability through: Settings tariffs in terms ofthe Council’s Tariff Policy, which will balance the economic viability of continued service delivery; and determiningappropriate service levelsIn order to qualify for indigent support the following criteria must be met: Households where verified total gross monthly income of all occupants over 18 years of age does notexceed the level, as determined in Council’s tariff policy from time to time, qualify for a subsidy. Subsidized services may include housing debt, sewerage, refuse removal and assessment rates, andconsumption service charges. Only households where the accountholder or property owner has applied as indigent, and whoseapplication has been accepted shall qualify for the above concessions. For a household to qualify for subsidies or rebates on the major service charges, the registered indigentmust be the full-time occupant of the property concerned, and if not also the owner of the propertyconcerned, may not own any other property, whether in or out of the municipal area. The indigent household’s consumption will be limited to a three month average of a maximum of 12kilolitres of water and 250 units, excluding the free 50 units, of electricity per month, inclusive of the freebasic service grant. Households must formally apply for relief on the prescribed documentation and satisfy the qualifyingcriteria/principles as determined by the Council. The status of indigent is conferred for a period of not more than twelve months after which re-applicationmust be made.Budget PolicyThis policy consists of four Parts: Objectives, Legal requirements, Budgeting and principles to be followed andresponsibilities of a Chief Financial OfficerTo set out the budgeting principles which the municipality will follow in preparing each annual budget, as well asthe responsibilities of the chief financial officer in compiling such budget.This legal framework consist of sections in accordance with the appropriation of fundsSection 15 Appropriation of funds for expenditureSection 16 Annual budgetsSection 1 Contents of Annual budget and supporting documentsSection 18 Funding of expendituresSection 19 Capital projectsSection 20 matters to be prescribedSection 21 Budget preparation processSection 22 Publication of Annual budgetSection 23 Consultation on tabled budgetSection 24 Approval of Annual budgetSection 25 Failure to approve budget before the start of financial yearSection 26 Consequences of failure to approve budget before the start of financial yearSection 27 Non compliance with provisions of this chapterSection 28 Municipal adjustment budgetsSection 29 Unforeseen and unavoidable expenditureSection 30 Unspent fundsSection 31 Shifting of funds between multi-year appropriationsSection 32 Unauthorized, irregular and fruitless expenditure etc233 | P a g e