Adelaide councils’ $130m cash grab: Every proposed rates increase listed

Adelaide councils are about to squeeze ratepayers for millions more dollars in a huge cash grab. Here’s what your council wants to charge you – and why this man says they should.

Adelaide councils plan to suck an extra $130 million per year out of the pockets of ratepayers from July 1 as they battle higher-than-usual inflation.

All Adelaide councils have now finalised their draft budgets to put to ratepayers, and the total rates take next year stands at $1.49 billion, up from $1.36 billion.

Householders will in part be sheltered from the biggest of this increase, as commercial property owners are hit hardest.

But homes will also attract large increases, mainly because of the higher-than-normal inflation faced by councils as they meet increased wages and materials bills.

Most of the 20 metropolitan or part metropolitan councils will increase rates at or close to the inflation rate used for their calculations; 7.9 per cent.

But there are winners from the annual pain sharing, with some councils managing to keep their increases below 6 per cent; Burnside, Gawler, Marion, Mount Barker, Norwood Payneham and St Peters, Prospect, and Unley.

Campbelltown Council so far has the biggest planned increase, 8.90 per cent or a $143 increase from $1702 to $1845.

See the full list of proposed increases below

Local Government Association president and Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson. Picture: Robert Lang

Local Government Association president Dean Johnson defended the role of all councils and the battle they faced this year.

“The past few years have been tough for many, and rising inflation has made the cost of living incredibly difficult for families and individuals,” he said.

“While councils will work to keep rates low through budget savings and balancing investments, these pressures are affecting council costs in a real way.

“Adelaide’s Consumer Price Index has risen by almost 8 per cent over the past 12 months, while things like road costs and construction materials have increased by up to 25 per cent.”

Mayor Johnson said councils were an efficient tier of government.

“Keeping streets clean, maintaining parks and playgrounds, providing library services and sporting facilities, running community centres – these are vital for wellbeing, safe neighbourhoods and thriving communities,” he said.

Shannon and Madeleine Martin with children Sierra, Charlotte and Elliana at their Paralowie home last year. Salisbury Council is proposing a rate rise of 6.9 per cent, which would take the average rates bill from $1484 to $1591. Picture: Emma Brasier

But Uniting Communities spokesman Simon Schrapel said there was a growing divide between wages growth and rates growth, and there would be flow-on effects from property owners to tenants.

“It is interesting that they are talking only about the inflation rate because most people’s wages are not growing at anything like inflation,’’ he said.

“The most recent decision by Fair Work Australia for awards – 5.75 per cent – is the highest we have had for some years.

“But that is well below the inflation rate and the ABS shows March to March the increase in wages has been 3.6 per cent.

“You can see the growing discrepancy.”

Mr Schrapel said; “Any increase in rates and charges flows directly on to all household budgets and puts further pressure on cost of living’’.

“The people who will end up paying this flow-on are renters on fixed incomes who can least afford it.”

COUNCILS’ PROPOSED RATE INCREASES

Council/per cent average rate increase/dollar increase/2022/23 vs 2023/24

Adelaide Hills Council: 6.9 per cent, up $157 from $2301 to $2458

City of Burnside: 5.5 per cent, up $108 from $2006 to $2114

Campbelltown City Council: 8.90 per cent, up $143 from $1702 to $1845

City of Charles Sturt: 7.5 per cent, up $111 from $1480 to $1591

Town of Gawler: 5.2 per cent, up $92 from $1744 to $1836

City of Holdfast Bay: 6.9 per cent, up $112 from $1669 to $1781

City of Marion: 5.2 per cent, up $83 from $1598 to $1681

City of Mitcham: 7.84 per cent or 8.9 per cent, up $151 or $171 from $1919 to $2070 or $2090

Mount Barker District Council: 5.6 per cent, up $100 from $1786 to $1886

City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters: 5.2 per cent, up $95 from $1812 to $1907

City of Onkaparinga: 7.9 per cent, up $131 from $1659 to $1790

City of Playford: 7.91 per cent, up $133 from $1681 to $1814

City of Port Adelaide Enfield: 8.6 per cent, up $97 from $1135 to $1232

City of Prospect: 5.75 per cent, up $118 from $2065 to $2183

City of Salisbury: 6.9 per cent, up $107 from $1484 to $1591

City of Tea Tree Gully: 6.5 per cent, up $119 from $1842 to $1962

City of Unley: 5.25 per cent, up $104 from $1986 to $2090

Town of Walkerville: 6.9 per cent, up $157 from $2280 to $2437

City of West Torrens: 7.84 per cent, up $106 from $1358 to $1464

* City of Adelaide: 7 per cent (estimate only)

Sources: Council draft budgets