State of City Finances Report 2013

The South African Cities Network (SACN) has for some time been involved in investigating, assessing and tracking how its members are doing financially. This publication is a continuation of this body of work. It performs an analysis of the annual financial statements of the SACN members cities.  Importantly, however, it goes further, probing a number of key thematic areas that have important implications for city finances. Under the broad umbrella of sustainable municipal finances,  these themes touch on matters as varied as city tariffs and their affordability to households, housing accreditation, how well city assets are maintained and even the potential effect of the green agenda on city finances. The report makes the links and connections that city finances have to these important developmental issues. We look forward to continuing to tell this unfolding story going into the future.