HAWKESBURY councillors have bemoaned the public’s opposition to rate rises, begging the question how the public can expect them to maintain infrastructure and deliver services without revenue.
At Council’s meeting on June 10, it voted to bring in a 1.8 per cent rate rise, which was in line with rate pegging.
Last year, Council was angling for a five per cent rate rise above rate pegging over five years.
However, with the sustained threat of amalgamation hanging over Council like the Sword of Damocles, and a feeling the public was not on their side, councillors opted not to pursue that option in December.
Hawkesbury Mayor Kim Ford said last week the decision to do away with the special variation rate rise was a disastrous decision.
He said rate pegging was below the current level of inflation, which meant even if Council raised rates, it was still losing money.
“We should have applied for a special variation rate (SVR) rise this year but councillors didn't vote for that,” he said.
“Next year, we'll have to apply for a SVR and we'll have to explain why we want it.”
Cr Christine Paine was the sole councillor present on June 10 to vote against passing on the rate rise.
She told the Gazette it was because she opposed the changes to the ratings structure, which were brought in a few years ago.
However, she said it was unrealistic for the public to assume Council could do its job without raising rates.
“I think everybody this day and age has to expect things are going to go up. Nobody can maintain things with the same amount of revenue,” she said.
“The cost of trying to maintain garbage collection, maintain roads let alone getting through the backlog, maintaining the swimming pool. All of those things have a lot of staff, and staff eat up a lot of money.
“They [the public] expect us to do it without any kind of increase. I don't want a big increase but I think we need some sort of increase.”
Councillor Barry Calvert said he was dismayed whenever he heard people cry foul over rate rises.
His main objection was because he felt it implied Council was wasteful with its funds, which was not the case, he said.
“The rates are always a really contentious issue,” he said.
“I don't think people in the Hawkesbury have much to complain about.
“If they can point out council waste I'll try to have it fixed but I don't think there is any.”
Cr Calvert added our rates were much lower than neighbouring councils.
