Parramatta Council to increase rates by 5.1 per cent
Parramatta ratepayers will shell out more in rates – a move supporters say was necessary to keep Sydney’s second city in the black and ensure it was not ‘exceptionally irresponsible’.
NSW
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Parramatta City ratepayers will fork out 5.1 per cent extra in rates over the next financial year in a move that was deemed necessary to avoid the council falling into a deficit.
The rise will equate to $38 extra a year per household and was voted at the Monday night council meeting after Our Local Community councillor Michelle Garrard requested a rate freeze in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.
“I will look at each of you in the face and say just once put your hand up and say no to a rate increase – just once – you could do it,’’ she said.
“Or you could all sit there and abstain and vote no against but I really think the residents would be super proud if you were to support no rate increase.’’
But Labor’s Cameron Maclean hit back at her for being “the opportunist” and labelled the opposition to rate rises as financially irresponsible.
The council’s chief financial officer John Angilley confirmed if the 5.1 per cent rate rise were not implemented, it would put the council’s budget in the red.
“If we were to take out the $8.2m our $6m surplus would be over a $2m deficit,’’ he said.
Cr Maclean said: “You can’t have it both ways Cr Garrard. You’re always upstanding saying what a great financial position we are in this council.”
“We’re in that position because some of us in this place are being financially prudent.’’
He said infrastructure provisions could only be delivered if rates rose.
“I cannot believe councillors will willingly put their name to wanting to cut services and put the council into the red – it’s exceptionally irresponsible,’’ he said.
Cr Georgina Valjak supported the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal-recommended 5.1 per cent increase which she said would be offset by a $50 domestic waste management charge for residential ratepayers.
There are 100,000 ratepayers in the Parramatta local government area.
Councillor Garrard, Henry Green and Donna Wang voted against the rate rise. Those supporting the move were councillors Maclean, Valjak, Patricia Prociv, Sameer Pandey, Ange Humphries, Paul Noack, Phil Bradley, Kellie Darley and Mayor Pierre Esber.
Councillor Lorraine Wearne was absent. Dan Siviero announced his resignation as a councillor this month.
Cumberland ratepayers will increase rates by 2.5 per cent.
Councillors who supported the rate rise were Greg Cummings, Glenn Elmore, Sabrin Farooqui, Ola Hamed, Kun Huang, Mohamad Hussein, Joseph Rahme, Suman Saha, Eddy Sarkis, Michael Zaiter and Mayor Lisa Lake.
Councillor against the rate rise were Steve Christou, Paul Garrard and Helen Hughes.
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