The Council starting position for this year’s Rates hike has been stated as 8.6% on last year. But they have managed to find some savings and brought this down to 6.4%. The Long Term Plan promised us a 7% rise per year.
Let’s put this in context so you get the real picture and ignore the percentage they are purported to have started at because that is a grift. I even forecast this would happen lol. We will use the long term plan figure.
Rates example.
$4000 per annum. Rise $256. You pay $4256. Savings against annual plan. $24 per year
$5000 per annum. Rise $320. You pay $5320. Savings against annual plan. $30 per year
There is some talk about getting this down to 5.7%. This will save us around $58.50 if you started on $4500. Your rates for this year would be $4756.50
You get the drift. The real kicker is that the Council pushed a large increase through a couple of years ago and then have compounded it since. The other kick in the guts is that they will use the difference of 0.4% or 1.3% against the long term plan as a reason for not consulting.
The real issue is that the Council wont look at their fundamental operating model. If ever there was a case of Can’t cook Wont cook this is it.
Do something. Write to your Ward Councillor. Attend meetings. Tell your buddies. Make a difference.