Ratepayers to cop rate rises all across the Riverina including Wagga, Junee and Griffith

Thousands of ratepayers across the Riverina will see rates rise - as high as 2.5 per cent in some local councils. Here’s what residents had to say.

Around 150,000 ratepayers across the Riverina will be slugged with an increase in council rates, after requests for special rate variations for 86 councils were approved by IPART this week.

The variations, which will see some ratepayers fork out up to 1.8 per cent extra on their rates notice, comes following “high inflation and global uncertainty” resulting in increased council costs.

This year the rate peg was set at a minimum of 0.7 per cent, according to an IPART spokesman, with the additional special variation process giving councils an opportunity to increase this figure.

It means Riverina council shires such as Murrumbidgee, Junee and Collamon will see rate rises of 2.5 per cent; in Griffith, Wagga and Narrandera there’ll be a 2 per cent rise and in Leeton, a 1.8 per cent increase.

Wagga residents have hit out at the rate increase which has come hot on the heels of councillors giving themselves a 22 per cent pay rise a fortnight ago .

Residents from Wagga took to social media to air their concerns.

“When a business gets hit with a price rise, the cost is passed onto the customer. The end consumer? We don’t have that luxury! Expenses just keep going up and up. Where does it stop? When someone is homeless or worse?,” one community member said.

Wagga Residents have hit out at the rate rise and highlighted the issue of cost of living.

“I don’t think local governments are doing a good enough job to get a pay rise for God’s sake! Let alone an increase in rates. It’s a bloody insult and I hope they can’t sleep at night,” said another community member.

“Great time with utilities skyrocketed. Who’s in charge is unbelievable,” another community member said.

However Bob Townsend who has lived in Wagga for over two years said: “It was accepted due to increased cost of living and not surprising at all it has happened”.

Wagga City councillor Dan Hayes defended the rise.

“I think people don’t like to pay high prices and people want to pay as low as possible but this allows us (council) to try to maintain business as usual,” he said.

Wagga City Councillor Dan Hayes said there always going to backlash on the rate rise. Picture: Supplied

“With the increased rates such a thing as putting money into long term funds or the likes will not happen, it will be going towards maintaining roads and services, so staff can do their jobs because not having the money makes it hard.”

Wagga Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association president Lynn Bodell said there was always going to be opposing views on the issue.

“Councils are incredibly underfunded and have their hands tied in some cases regarding where the money goes,” Ms Bodell said.

Mayor of Junee Shire Neil Smith said the community reaction over the rate increase had been minimal.

“Certainly no feedback at this stage, it is going to be interesting next few years, especially with further rate variations and we will make sure the community can be on board though the formal process,” he said.

Mr Smith said the council’s application for an increase was modest compared to other councils who were struggling financially.

“If we do not get the special rate for our council especially it will cause us to put the red pen through certain projects such as road maintenance, cutting the grass of our beautiful gardens and much more,” he said.

This comes as the cost of living has increased vastly in 2022, highlighted by the rising cost of staples such as iceberg lettuce.