Council rates: Sunraysia’s 23% increase a ‘kick in the guts’

VICTORIA’S largest shire, stretching from the Murray River to south of Ouyen, is about to slap farmers with a 23 per cent rate hike, while cutting residential rates by 0.13 per cent.

Disgusted: Mildura table grape grower John Argiro says the rate hike comes just as grape prices have improved. Picture: Cory Brown

VICTORIA’S largest shire, stretching from the Murray River to south of Ouyen, is about to slap farmers with a 23 per cent rate hike, while cutting residential rates by 0.13 per cent.

Mildura Rural City Council draft 2018-19 budget, which councillors will vote on tonight, has kept its overall average rate increase within the Andrews Labor Government’s 2.25 per cent fair go rates cap.

However, the council has been able to stay within the cap by cutting the rate revenue collected from its 23,095 residential ratepayers by 0.13 per cent and limiting its 2434 businesses rate rise to 1.4 per cent, but slugging its smaller pool of 3339 rural ratepayers with a 22.87 per cent rate hike.

READ MORE: HIKES TO HIT FARMERS HARD

If implemented tonight the draft budget will mean farmers’ rate contribution to council will rise from $8.2 million in 2017-18 to more than $10 million in the new financial year.

Mildura councillor Anthony Cirillo said the farm rate rise was driven by a massive surge in farm values, which the draft budget shows have risen 33.8 per cent in the past 12 months.

He said there was little the council could do, given it had locked in the maximum farm rate differential at 10 per cent until June 30, 2019. But what shocked Cr Cirillo was that council released its budget on May 25 for public consultation, but received just one submission by its June 11 deadline.

Cr Cirillo said it was frustrating that farmers were not making more noise about the rate hike, given his campaign to be elected to council was based on countering unfair farm rate rises.

Ouyen grain growers Ian Hastings said most farmers had been flat out sowing crops when the draft budget was released for public comment in May.

“The budget was released when I was doing 14 hours a day on the tractor,” Mr Hastings said.

“I have no doubt the council will pass the budget. But what I’m doing is trying to make as much noise about it now as I can.”

Mr Hastings organised a meeting of farmers at Ouyen on Monday night, but said he had no doubt the council would pass the budget as is.

“Why are we being burdened with the increase, while other categories are not — residential and businesses,” he said.

Merbein tablegrape grower John Argiro said he was “absolutely disgusted” with the 23 per cent rate hike.

“We’ve only just come out of the doldrums, (tablegrape) prices are good, and then council kicks us in the guts,” Mr Argiro said.

“What I want to know is when the crest comes off, will they drop our rates by 23 per cent.”