Special Rate Variation Community Engagement Report - Shoalhaven City Council

However Council general manager Russ Pigg said Shoalhaven’s “average
residential rates are currently 20 to 45 per cent lower than other NSW councils of
similar size, scale and nature and we need to ensure [we] continue to maintain
financial sustainability”.
“The rise would equate on average to a couple of dollars a week, less than the cost
of a cup of coffee.” – New Greens councillor Nina Cheyne
“Council intends after its Strategy and Assets Committee on October 11 to proceed
with the application for a Special Rate Variation Application for 2017-18 and 2018-
19,” Mr Pigg said.
Cr Guile countered “once you add in the rate peg we are talking a 26 to 27 per cent
rise. On top of that there will be increases in waste charges, water and sewer”.
Councillors Proudfoot, Watson and Pakes have lodged a rescission motion that Cr
Guile said he would support at the next council meeting.
“We have to appreciate that families across this city have limited means and we
need to listen to what things are like for them,” he said.
However, Mr Pigg said council needed to do two critical things – more work to
maintain existing assets in a better condition and meet the state government
mandated expectations around its Fit for the Future financial plan.
“Council simply cannot do this within the existing rate structures,” Mr Pigg said.
He said the figure of $600 suggested as the current annual amount for the average
ratepayer, was incorrect.
“The proposed increase will see the average ratepayer pay an extra $139.00 in
2017-18, a further $157 in 2018-19 and then revert back to the normal rate peg
increases in future years.”
Newly elected Greens councillor Nina Cheyne said “the rise would equate on
average to a couple of dollars a week, less than the cost of a cup of coffee”.
Cr Guile said the yearly average now was closer to $700.
“These increases will take most ratepayers over the [one] thousand dollar mark with
impacts on household budgets of hundreds of dollars a year,” he said.
“Owners of high land value properties, no matter what their income, could be paying
thousands in rates taxes.”
The next ordinary meeting of council that will hear the rescission motion will be on October
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8 January 2016 ‐ South Coast Register ‐ Merger figures don’t add up
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