The 13 councils looking to hike rates
Thirteen councils across NSW have applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to increase their general revenue above the rate peg in 2019-20.
Across NSW, the total annual increase to the amount of income that a council can raise from certain rates and charges is limited by the rate peg, which is determined on an annual basis. IPART has set the rate peg for 2019-20 at 2.7 per cent, up from 2.3 per cent in 2018-19 primarily due to increases in labour, energy and construction costs.
Councils requiring additional revenue are able to apply to IPART for either permanent or temporary single year or multi-year increases above the rate peg, which are known as special variations.
Of the 13 councils that have applied this year, six are from metropolitan Sydney (Burwood, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney, Randwick and Sutherland) and seven are from regional areas (Dungog, Kiama, Lithgow, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens, Richmond Valley and Tamworth).
The number of councils applying is the same as in 2018-19, and slightly up on the eight in 2017-18 and 12 in 2016-17.
IPART Chair Dr Paul Paterson said IPART will determine all of the 13 applications by mid-May and councils electing to apply the approved increases would be able to do so for the 2019-20 year.
Are you in one of the areas where the council is looking to lift rates above the standard rise? What do you think of the claim?
Yes and the council are I am in is one of them -- they waste heaps on crap -- as well as having fireworks about 12 times a year -- maybe more --and had totally unsuitable trees --- spotted gum -- etc planted on the footpaths in so many new estates -- which have torn up the footpaths and had to be removed -- even after many of us told the council they were the wrong trees and they would do this --- but some idiot out of Uni knew better -- and has cost us a bloody fortune!