Rates crunch time

By Jonathon Howard

IT’S CRUNCH time on rates for Tweed Shire councillors this week as they meet on Thursday, June 22, to decide whether to implement a special rate variation (SRV) of 2.35 per cent in the 2023/24 financial year.

The Weekly checked in with several councillors prior to the meeting and it appears most councillors will support the SRV — although one is undecided and Cr Reece Byrnes is deadset against it.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has already given council the green light to apply the SRV of 2.35 per cent for one year, but it’s councillors who need to officially approve the SRV, via a vote.

The proposed SRV would combine with the 4.0 per cent pegged rate rise that’s already approved and could increase general rates to a total of 6.35 per cent for the next financial year.

Tweed was one of 17 councils across NSW that applied for a SRV ahead of the next financial year, with the Tweed’s requested rate rise “significantly lower than the rest”.

Cr Warren Polglase was initially supportive of the SRV, but rising interest rates and the recent impacts to local businesses have prompted him to reconsider.

“I’m reconsidering my position on the matter,” he said.

“Council has always been innovative and creative in our costings and we may need to look at the books again to determine some creative methods of delivering outcomes.”

Mr Polglase said he read the ‘Your Say Tweed’ feedback and felt the views might not capture the full sentiment of the community, including local businesses.

Cr Reece Byrnes says he will not support the SRV.

“I’ve been very clear that we should look internally and find savings so we don’t have to pass the flood impact onto residents and ratepayers when they can least afford it,” he said.

“I am looking at the documents more thoroughly and I think hard decisions will have to made, but I would obviously support no staff losses, but my key point is, I’m not supporting the rate rise. We need to look internally.”

Mayor Chris Cherry said, overall, the ‘Proposed SRV Your Say Tweed’ page attracted more than 2,600 visits, resulting in 452 online survey responses in addition to the many letters and emails received.

“We urge those significantly affected by the rate increase to reach out to our team at the earliest opportunity to discuss possible hardship assistance,” she said.

Cr Cherry said if the SRV was not approved by a majority vote, it would result in council job losses.

“If we don’t approve this SRV, it would result in job cuts within council,” she said.

“I’m optimistic and believe that a majority of councillors would support the motion after reading the feedback from the community.”

Cr Cherry said the survey found that the majority of ratepayers supported the SRV and it was more important that those services continued.

“The bigger issue that keeps coming up is changes to the rating system that Tweed Shire Council uses,” she said.

“I will therefore raise a motion on Thursday to investigate a more equitable rating system so that we don’t have such a massive disparity between the valley and the coast.”

Councillors Rhiannon Brinsmead and James Owen issued a joint statement to The Weekly on the SRV.

“No councillor ever wants to put rates up over and above the rate peg amount,” the statement reads.

“However, due to increasing pressure on costs and ever-diminishing support from state governments, we don’t feel that we have any other option than to support the 2.35 per cent (SRV) increase to ensure that we are able to maintain council services at their current levels.

“The options presented to us would have meant reducing services and negatively impacting the lives of our community.

“Importantly, the majority of the community have told us that they do not want to see cuts or reductions to current services.

“If we do not accept the Special Rate Variation, the reality is we will have no other choice but to cut and reduce the services that went to the community for consideration.”