Backlash for Murray Bridge plan to drop rates for wealthiest homeowners
Angry ratepayers have slammed leaders of the rural council over their controversial plan to hike up rates for lower-cost homes – forcing a stunning backflip.
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Murray Bridge council is abandoning its controversial “reverse Robin Hood” plan to charge lower-valued homeowners higher rates and to pass the extra dollars onto wealthier homeowners, businesses and farmers.
After being inundated with more than 300 submissions and a backlash from locals claiming it targeted those struggling most in the region, councillors voted to keep the current rating system.
Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley previously said the planned changes were driven by trying to bring “a bit more fairness in it” where the “top end is probably paying a little bit more than it should, and the bottom end is probably paying not quite enough”.
The local council was considering giving rate cuts for residential properties valued higher than $650,000 while those valued between $150,000 and $450,000 faced increases.
During a month-long public consultation, one ratepayer described the plan as “reverse Robin Hood”, saying it was “forgetting about the huge percentage of low socio-economic and ageing demographic”.
Another submission suggested the council should instead focus on “big businesses or cutting salaries of the council”.
One ratepayer, who said they would be better off in the deal said “however, there will be far too many people that will be worse off”.
Houses valued in the middle of the lower range would face the sharpest increases, with owners of homes worth $250,000 set to pay an extra $433 a year.
“Outrageous that the council should try and take more money from everyday residential ratepayers to save money for the rich,” another submission said.
While another said the plan was “much more equitable for all ratepayers” and said those “with more expensive properties are disproportionately levied than those with cheaper properties”.
After receiving community feedback through submissions, information sessions and a public hearing, it was recommended the council dropped the idea.
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Originally published as Backlash for Murray Bridge plan to drop rates for wealthiest homeowners
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