Special Rate Variation Community Engagement Report - Shoalhaven City Council

Council also should ensure that the residents are aware that the higher rates
generate financial sustainability for the Council and opportunities for management to
implement its strategic objectives.
In both cases, some residents are motivated to pay higher rates and offer support
having to pay higher rates if the money is used to improve Shoalhaven City’s future
prospects.
7.1.5 Rates Options
When the rate-payers were asked their preferred options for the future rates
increases, almost half of them (47%) stated that they are not prepared to pay
additional rates. They do not indicate a clear preference among the proposed
options but an ‘increase rates by 11.5% every year for 2 years (plus the rate peg):
Lowest increase over a seven year period’ was the most identified option (37%).
7.1.6 Spending of additional funds
According to respondents, the extra income that is generated from the increased
rates should be spent on roads (58%).The significance tests showed that the roads
are clearly the main priority for the Council’s future investments for all subgroups of
the sample.
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