AS the federal government dithers over tax reform amid sharp declines in revenue as the mining booms sputters to a halt, the issue of rates is also raising its head here in the Shoalhaven – and already it’s shaping up a battle.
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Look beyond the sniping between Shoalhaven councillor Andrew Guile and Mayor Joanna Gash and you’ll see the groundwork being laid for a set of rate increases in the “next term” of council. Those two words might lull you into thinking you don’t need to worry because it’s a long way off. It’s not.
The next term of council begins after the next local government election, which is due next year – as is the federal election.
And already rates and future increases are being flagged as a major local election issue. Cr Gash has made it clear ratepayers will get the chance to vote on increases she says are necessitated by the NSW government’s Fit for the Future benchmarks designed to make councils sustainable.
So between now and the local government election in 2016 the case for any rate increases will have to be explained in simple language to ratepayers, who have in the life of this council already made their displeasure known. In turn, ratepayers should engage in the consultations set down to make clear their expectations from council and what they are prepared to pay to see them met.
Past experienced shows trying to engage ratepayers in such discussions is extremely difficult. All too often, the displeasure is vocalised after the event.
The Register will do its best to keep ratepayers informed and engaged in what is a necessary whole-of-community discussion. Today, we will be meeting with Cr Gash and council staff to be briefed on what the Fit for the Future reforms will mean for ratepayers. We will convey that information to our readers in the hope we can kick off the conversation. Stay tuned.