Special Rate Variation Community Engagement Report - Shoalhaven City Council

Vincentia Residents and Rate Payers Association and the Vincentia CCB does
NOT support any of the 3 options for future special rate increases presented by
Council, and calls for a deferral of any special increase for 1 year.
Before any special rate increase above the IPART rate peg amount of 1.5% is
considered, Council should
first explain to the Community:
* What plans it has for Review of Services not considered important by the
Community,
* What operational efficiencies it has identified, and the money saved
* How it plans to increase Value for Money on large purchases and capital projects
HWCV welcomes Council's intention to address anomalies in the existing rating
system, but why not do this first, before imposing precipitate double digit rate
rises in successive years? For example how
many tourism accommodation providers and commercial businesses ‐ are still
paying residential rates?
The work of the Vincentia RRA CCB demonstrates that alarmingly, last year Council
employee costs rose by over 12%, compared to max 2% in most private businesses.
Council's 12% increase in employee costs only generated less than 4% extra
revenue. Shouldn’t this situation be addressed before going out to the community
for more rates funding?
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