This fear has been realised for ratepayers who have received their 2017/18 Shoalhaven City Council rates bill in the mail.

On the verge of the rate rise, some Shoalhaven residents feared they would be slugged for more than what they could afford.

Their concerns were validated according to Councillor Andrew Guile who mentioned the impact of the rate rise on Tuesday night.

“I got a call today from a pensioner,” he said.

“His rates have gone up by $900, now I’m sure the general manager (Russ Pigg) said rates wouldn’t go up by more than $400.

“Now here we have a pensioner, on $20,000 a year, hit with a rates bill he can’t afford.”

Cr Bob Proudfoot also had word from a business owner at Kioloa, whose rates have increased by 20 per cent.