“We simply cannot afford an additional burden,” he said.
Alliance Real Estate owner Theo Kalinderidis said small businesses were already bracing themselves for the end of Job Keeper next month, and called on the council to do “much, much more” to explain why a rate rise was needed now.
“Do they have a plan or are they just trying to dig themselves out of a hole,” he said.
Mr Kalinderidis also warned it could have a ripple effect, with homebuyers particularly “cost conscious” about council rates.
