GEORGE NEWS - The beginning of July signals the annual increase in municipal rates, which includes yet another steep hike in the cost of electricity for already burdened South Africans.

A number of Georgians complained recently on the local Facebook page 'Georgiete Staan Saam' about excessive home rental prices, especially compared with the "poor" salaries being paid in George.

At about the same time, local estate agents speaking at an economic workshop in George made comments along the same lines, calling salaries in George "shocking" and saying that there is a shortage in residential rental space, because local property prices have become unaffordable to the average person.

Here are some questions that we invite you to respond to.
If you have any additional comments, that would be welcome too.
There are some questions for business owners also so that we can get their perspective too.

Questions:

• What do you think would be a reasonable household income for a family of four to make a decent living?
• Do you make use of credit to cover expenses related to your child/ren's basic needs such as clothing and school education?
• Do you think a family should own more than one car? Why/why not?
• What can you not afford now that you would buy/pay for first if you earned more? Name five things.
• Do you sometimes buy luxuries that you know you can do without and can't really afford? If so, what do you buy?
• Should young couples who want to start a family wait till they know for sure that their income can accommodate the expenses that come with parenthood?
• What would you consider to be a decent average salary for a receptionist/shop assistant/computer technician/beauty therapist?
• What would you consider to be a decent average salary for your job? How much more is it than what you are earning currently?
• What do you think would be a reasonable rent for a bachelor flat, one-bedroom flat or a three-bedroom home?

Questions for business owners:

• Please comment on the complaints about poor salaries: are you paying fair wages?
• What are the factors hindering business owners to pay higher salaries?
• What would motivate a business owner to pay his/her employees more?

* Please e-mail your views on the above to alida@groupeditors.co.za or send a fax to 044 874 1393, for attention, Alida de Beer. Responses will be handled confidentially and names will not be published if preferred.