Rate rise given the tick
BY DI SNEDDON
Singleton Ratepayers will have their rates increased by 2.6 per cent.
The decision was made by councillors at Monday’s monthly meeting with all but two councillors supporting the staff recommendation.
The decision included a community support package to fund rate rebates to offset the increase in general rates, waste, water and sewer fixed charges for residential, farmland and business ratepayers experiencing financial hardship due to the impact of Covid-19.
However Cr Hollee Diemar Jenkins had no faith in this program, suggesting Singleton residents were too proud to ask for help.
“Singleton is a proud town, people don’t want to put their hand up for help, it’s a sign of failure,” Cr Jenkins told the meeting.
“I don’t think Singleton Council will go under (if we don’t support the rate rise), we should give our residents and ratepayers a break,” she said.
However Cr Godfrey Adamthwaite said he believed people would put in for the rate relief.
“If they have lost their job or had wages decrease they will get the rate rise rebate,” he said.
Supporting the rise, Cr Danny Thompson said Singleton Council had done far more than any other local government area in the State to support ratepayers and added that not supporting the rise would have a flow on cost of up to $8million in a couple of years time.
Cr John Martin said he fully understood the implications of a rate rise but warned, if it wasn’t approved, Council would end up needing to apply for a special rate variation in the future above the Local Government rate peg limit.
“We are better off moving along steadily and do business this way,” he said.
In moving the motion to support the 2.6 per cent increase, Cr Tony Jarrett said if council was going to operate efficiently and continue to provide the services the community currently experienced, the rate rise needed to happen.
Anyone experiencing hardship due to Covid-19 is encouraged to apply for the rate rebate. Council has set aside $1.8million.
Meanwhile, Muswellbrook Council will consider its budget at its meeting later in the month. It too is proposing a 2.6 per cent rate rise.
*This story was published on Friday, June 19 2020.