Councillors were considering a proposal to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a special rate variation which would set a minimum rate for residential dwellings of $728.18 and minimum rate for businesses of $794.27, plus sundry levies, from July 1.
While “reluctantly” moving the rate increase, Councillor Linda Downey said if hard decisions were not made now then it would leave bigger problems in the future but she also highlighted concerns about cost shifting.
“Every time the State Government refuses to foot the bill for something that it should be footing the bill for, we have to foot the bill,” she said.
Also warning that council services, maintenance and facilities could be cut if the rate proposal wasn’t passed, Cr Asfour said he couldn’t see any other way forward.
“The community expects more. And we just don’t have the money to fulfil their expectations,” he said.
General manager Matthew Stewart said while “considered sound from a cashflow perspective”, the burden of deteriorating assets and an increasing asset backlog had to be addressed.
Opposing the proposal, Cr Alex Kuskoff said a rise “of this scale will be a huge burden”.
“Many residents and businesses are already struggling due to the recession and Covid restrictions,” he said.
Also opposing the council’s request to IPART, State MP for Bankstown, Tania Mihailuk, said it was “difficult to comprehend” a proposed rate hike ranging from 30 to 63 percent.
“The new merged council has been unable to demonstrate that it is in a financially viable position for the future, and is now seeking large scale rate rises never seen before in the history of this area,” she said.
