Rate increase set to be debated by Northern Beaches Council tonight
A proposed rate rise is set to be the centre of debate again on Tuesday night when Northern Beaches Council will consider feedback before finalising its budget.
Manly
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A PROPOSED rate rise is set to be the centre of debate again on Tuesday night when Northern Beaches Council will consider feedback before finalising its budget.
More than 700 people wrote to the council objecting to a 2.3 per cent increase in rates — Just six submissions supported the plan, which was signed off with Mayor Michael Regan’s casting vote.
A series of alternatives including a rate freeze, 0.5 per cent and one per cent increases will be proposed over five separate motions by Liberal Cr Rory Amon.
He said it was an attempt to sway councillors to vote for, at the very least a lower rate rise, than the proposed 2.3 per cent.
“A whopping 700 residents oppose a rate rise and support a rate freeze,” Cr Amon said.
“To ignore the community would be the ultimate breach of trust by council. Why have community engagement if we refuse to listen?”
The budget was put on public exhibition in April, seeking to increase rates by about $4m.
It was challenged by a rate freeze call, which came amid a projected two year surplus of $20m.
“Last year’s budget received about 50 submissions in total. This budget received 700 submissions opposing the rate rise and six supporting it,” Cr Amon said.
“Were those six the Mayor and his 5 councillors from his block voting political party?
“No council budget in the country (that I have been able to find) has had more than 700 submissions made against its centrepiece.”
Cr Regan said there was a total of the submissions against the proposal, 572 were proformas of two emails.
One carried the heading “I oppose the rate rise” and the other said “Submission on Delivery Plan and Rate Hike.”
Of the 701 emails sent to councillors 67 per cent were received before the plans were put on public exhibition.
“This is a really exciting budget that give us a chance to get moving on lots of the projects our community wants to see,” Cr Regan said.
“We move to next stage on the amazing Coast Walk and art trail and other big projects like the Mona Vale Surf Club. We’ll upgrade roads and build more footpaths and cycleways.
“We’ll keep improving playgrounds and sports fields. And we’ll continue to deliver our extensive range of great services — from libraries to childcare, aquatic centres, art and theatre and sustainability initiatives.
“Plus we will still deliver a surplus which puts us in a strong position for the future and safeguards against emergencies such as we saw with the east coast low.”
