A reader’s plea to support the SRA
With the Saving St Francis SRA vote dominating local news, St Francis Today invites all input, both FOR and AGAINST the SRA. It is important for all property owners to cast their vote for we live in a democracy and the final outcome of the vote must represent the ‘will of the community’ as a whole. We, St Francis Today, encourage all comment, be it a letter showing support or, as importantly, ideas or suggestions on the proposed SRA or alternatives to it.
One thing is certain, every effort has to be made to make St Francis a better place to live in by reversing the fast deteriorating infrastructure and only the local property owners can make this happen.
How?
So far the SRA is the only idea on the table but who knows what other ideas may evolve from open comment and discussion. We doubt the St Francis Property Owners concept is cast in stone and so it is over to the community. One thing is for certain though; we cannot look to the Kouga municipality for help. In recent presentations Mayor van Lingen has made it quite clear there simply isn’t the money to pour into upgrading the St Francis infrastructure. That things have and will continue to improve now that the DA is in control is a positive but they cannot work miracles. And for those that feel it is unfair that their rates are being used to support the poorer areas of Kouga, it is time to face realities of the South Africa we live in.
The reader’s letter (Unedited)
VOTE YES TO SAVE ST FRANCIS BAY
Hi all SFB Property owners,
You may or may not be aware of the incredible work that has been going on behind the scenes performed by the St Francis Property Owners. The initiative is known as:
SAVE St FRANCIS
For many years we have all had huge concerns, & moans, as to the deterioration of the infrastructure of our village which we all chose to invest in. All infrastructure, & the land it is positioned on, belongs to Council. The rates we have paid in the past are supposed to support the maintenance of the infrastructure, amongst other requirements. We are all aware that this has not been happening, & will not happen into the future due to many reasons, be it political & or funding. Stay real.
The SFPO have for the last year completed unbelievable work investigating & negotiating a method in which the town of SFB can be taken back to what we all want, & that is one of the best tourist/investment destination in the Eastern Cape & SA. Many ideas were discussed & the only method that offers us property owners a guarantee that whatever funds we inject will be spent in the SFB town is a SRA.
This is detailed on the website of the SFPO & you need to ensure you educate yourself accordingly.
To ensure the SRA can be implemented according to legislature we have to have a minimum of 50% + 1 of the designated rate payers to vote in favour of this.
We cannot be apathetic related to this, we ALL have to act. Complete the attached voting form & ensure it is sent back to the SFPO office at contact@sfbresidents.org
Do not take this lightly, PLEASE act now & complete your vote in favour of the SRA.
Should you have any negative concerns related to this PLEASE contact the SFPO offices, details below, & they will arrange a meeting/discussion to ensure you have the correct facts on which to base your decision. We have the chance NOW to make the difference. We have to get 1100 yes votes by no later than June. Choose & decide wisely, as you did when you invested your funds into SFB.
Your co SFB investor
Vince Ryan
St Francis today has had requests that we create a page where all comment, again FOR and AGAINST, can be published. We are presently developing such a page, possibly in the form of a ‘forum’ that we will also ask SPFO to put on their website so as to ensure the whole process is as transparent as possible and that every voice is heard.
If you have already voted check to make sure your vote has been registered.
I agree that the work done behind the scenes by SFPO has been admirable BUT the voting procedure is not and it is confusing. All we know is that a 50+1″yes” vote will be in favour of the SRA.
Here are some questions I would like to have answers to : what is the closing date, are voting boxes secure until that date, who checks the veracity of the of the forms, who counts the votes after the closing date and who signs off the voting procedure as fair and accurate.
How can Pam Golding send out an email flyer quoting the number of “yes” votes he has received so far. Voting is a private matter whether for or against. No property owner should be exposed to ridicule if they wish to vote”no”.
A one on one meeting as suggested above is not a solution. The SFPO should either hold a meeting dealing with the voting procedure and privacy there of or put a explanatory flyer dealing with the points raised in every commercial venture in the village and an email drop as well.
This vote is important and voting should be handled as accurately as if done by the IEC. This would avoid any legal challenges.
I accept that we need to have a fund in order to carry out important work in St Francis Bay. However, I feel that the fact the the municipality is charging 5 percent collection fee is unacceptable. The reality for them is that they are receiving more rates from us which increases annually, all that for doing a transfer of funds monthly and for absolving themselves of providing services which they are being paid for. If they insist on being paid for collecting money, then that extra five percent should be added to their paltry budget for SFB and used within SFB.
I support what Vince Ryan has said and believe that a lot of the “NO” sentiment is based on inadequate understanding of the implications of having an SRA. Some disillusioned people have simply become negative because of past failures. The cost of not having one is often ignored. While the promoters, whose effots are highly commendable and have gone to considerable lengths to explain their proposals more needs to be done. Possibly Vince Ryan’s letter could be published in the Chronicle. The suggestion that home owners visit the SFBO offices will I hope also encourage “NO’s” to visit the offices and get a better understanding of the proposals. I appreciate the concerns especially on affordability which may simply discourage some people but the fact that there is a propsed way to address this issue could remove this concern and let people support the SRA for the right reasons. Mike Tagg
Mike Tagg
I fully support Vince Ryan’s appeal. There is a group of very committed people who have put in a huge effort without any payment in fact they have invested a considerable time and effort and actual hard cash to get this proposal to where it is simply because they can appreciate the impact of the current state of affairs on their investments in the area. The decline in infrastructure is going to continue at a pace because the rates paid are insufficient to deal with all the demands.
The harsh reality is that 60% of current rates paid go to underprivileged areas which is only right given the lack of investment in those communities in the past. For the Municipality to tackle all that needs to be done our rates will need to be increased substantially. For the Municipality to do just what the SFBHO committee has identified will require our current rates to be increased by 120% and then we have no control over which projects those increased rates go to, more than likely a lesser amount will come to SFB.
It is easy to sit and object but the negative impact on investment area is a very real factor so objecting without putting forward a viable alternative is really not the way to go.
Provisions have been made to deal with the folk who would find the additional fee a hardship but then those people need to approach SFBPO office and present their case rather than just voting No.
Members of the St Francis Community should bear in mind that These SRA’s started in the form of CID’s ( City Improvement Districts) for the very same reasons well before the ANC came into power because Municipalities were not able or willing to do what needed to be done today there are numerous such arrangements around the country including PE and Cape Town where there are 33 such bodies set up with this type of SRA arrangements . Most if not all gated communities have also done similar things to gain a better control over their environment and members have to pay special levies to cover additional security, gardening, Road maintenance etc beyond their own direct residential property.
Finally it is important that every property owner submits a form for each property they own and it needs to be a form that is signed. Just saying yes on a “whatsap” message is not good enough and will not be counted.
I absolutely agree and support Mike Tagg and Ian Watt’s comments. It is a far better idea than having our rates put up 120% or more, only to see is used elsewhere. We, as Riparian Levy payers have a similar system in place and what a difference it has made to the canals and areas near the canals. I think it should be remembered that we are paying extra for the benefit of the whole community. It is essential that all rate payers read everything that is published about this proposal and I know for a fact that the Committee is open to suggestions and an approach for a lesser amount to be paid if one is under finanacial pressure. This is the first really viable committee and plan put in place to deal with the huge issue of our collapsing village infratructure. In Johannesburg my levy also goes to watering and maintaining the pavements and central island down Maxwell Drive and the exterior municipal part of our estate. Sadly, this is what is happening all over the world, areas of Washington USA was the first time I heard of it, and is the reality of modern life if one wants to maintain a certain standard of living and property price. I have voted YES.
What do you do if you cannot afford the proposed 50 % levy ?
kevin
To make this procedure legitimate, legal and transparent surely ALL ratepayers in St Francis Bay should receive a voting form attached to their monthly rates and utilities bill. This should include ALL relevant voting details and dates as well as the full proposed costs of having a special rates area operating in the area.
I agree with Adele George suggestion that a summarised explanation together with details of the available links to the website as well as a voting form should be sent out with the municipal Bill. How does one get this suggestion to the SFPO committee. Have a call centre is a good tool but even that is not going to get to all people who pay rates.
St Francis Today does not reach a large number of residents in SFB. Many do not have computers or do not subscribe. Flyers in the village or a meeting that deals specifically with the vote/consent will reach those property owners.
Elizabeth makes a very good point so the question is how does one inform the rest of the community and how is that being approached.