See the list; how of much of the pie does your council get to eat

Country councils are battling for a bigger share of the federal Government funding pie, with their huge road network eating up dollars. See how much money your council is getting.

Country councils are battling for a bigger share of the federal government funding pie, with their huge road networks eating up the dollars.

The battle is being led by Wakefield Council, which this year was given a $2.5m slice of the funding. The largest share for any South Australian council went to Playford, which was paid $11.5m.

Country councils argue they suffer because the funding formula is based on a per-resident figure, not the network of roads they must maintain and improve.

The formula makes Wakefield appear to be better funded, with $377 per resident, compared to Playford’s $119.

Wakefield Mayor Rodney Reid said he continued to battle for a better deal for country councils.

The SA Local Government Association rejected his attempts to have the federal government explain the city/country divide because it could disadvantage Adelaide’s city councils.

It has instead asked why – despite it collecting 80 per cent of taxes while councils only collect 4 per cent – the amount returned to councils is less than 1 per cent in SA.

“In other states, for the road funding element, 60-70 per cent goes to the regional areas because of small populations with many roads, but in SA we are around 40 per cent,’' Mr Reid said.

Horrocks Highway. Picture: RAA

Victor Harbor Mayor Moira Jenkins said she backed the Wakefield lobbying, saying problems with road funding were the most acute for her council. She said it was only granted $640,979, which equated to $41 per resident.

Grants Commission figures tabled in state parliament show country councils do well on a per capita basis.

The most heavily funded by that measure for 2021-22 are Maralinga Tjarutja which was paid $2682 per person for the year, Wattle Range $2855, and Tumby Bay $2676.

Victor Harbor Mayor Moira Jenkins. Picture: Tom Huntley

At the other end of the scale, residents of five city councils were only funded to the tune of $32 each for the year; Prospect, Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, Holdfast Bay, Marion and Charles Sturt. LGA president Angela Evans said the issue had been rejected because the organisation would not disadvantage some councils to benefit others.

“Any change to the SA Local Government Grants Commission’s formula for the distribution of commonwealth funding should only be considered once the total quantum of funding has been increased, so no community experiences a decrease in the funding their council relies on to deliver local services,’’ she said.