SWAN Hill Rural City Council has proposed to raise council rates by an average of 2.7 percent in its draft budget for the coming financial year, to be released for public consultation today.
Council research estimated the rise — which included a general rate rise of 2.38 percent and a 3.52 percent increase in kerbside collection fees, taking total average council rates up by 2.76 percent — was one of the lowest in the state, with most other councils settling for rate increases of around four to five percent.
The average Swan Hill household would now have to pay an extra $49 over the coming year, or 94 more cents a week, and Robinvale households would on average pay an extra $38 — 73 more cents a week — based on recorded residential valuations.
Swan Hill Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary Roger Day agreed 2.76 percent was a comparatively low rate rise, particularly in relation to last year’s increase of more than three percent.
“We’re actually happy that they’re only going up 2.7 percent,” Mr Day said.
“It’s pretty good to keep it so low, especially in this climate. If they go lower it would be even better, but if they can’t then we still understand — it’s better to go lower than what it was last year.”
Council CEO Dean Miller said the rise was needed to ensure the continued delivery of core council services and its program of capital investments amid an environment of financial challenges.
“In preparing the draft budget, we faced some financial challenges of our own, like the continued reduction in State and Federal government funding to councils and pressure on other income sources, due to things like low interest rates on investments,” he said.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (May 8).
