This week Palerang residents received information about a proposed Special Rate Variation (ie: rate rise) and a feedback form in the mail from Council.
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At its Ordinary meeting on 6 August 2015, Council resolved to commence the process for consideration of a special rate variation. In NSW council rate rises are restricted by rate pegging set by IPART. The rate peg to apply in the 2015/16 financial year will be 2.4%.
However Council is proposing to apply for a variation and asked residents to choose between options of: 1. Deteriorate - with rates remaining at current rate peg. Council would become unsustainable in the short to medium term and assets deteriorate;
2. Stabilise - a rate rise 4% above the rate peg pa for five years (to achieve the financial benchmarks established by the State, improve maintenance of existing assets including roads, but with no significant upgrades or new assets, or
3. Improve - with a rate rise of 7% above the rate peg pa for five years to improve services and new and upgraded assets as identified in the Community Strategic Plan.
Council says “Despite its best efforts to identify internal efficiency improvements, pursue external funding opportunities and secure grants, Council is still not able to meet the needs of the community in the years ahead with its current rates income.”
“A rate variation is an important step towards being able to meet the key financial criteria required in the NSW Government's 'Fit for the Future' reform package for local government. If we do not increase our rate income, we will be required to significantly cut current service levels, including the maintenance and renewal of community and transport infrastructure.
Council says “We understand that there may be ratepayers in our community who could experience hardship as a result of a rate increase, and we are reviewing our Hardship Policy
so that we can offer assistance in such cases.”
These increases would apply only to the ‘rates’ part of your annual bill, and not to the levies for water, sewer and waste which are not subject to ratepegging.