Council to Commence Consultation on a Proposed Special Rate Variation

Published on 04 October 2022

Leeton Shire Council is set to kick off a comprehensive community consultation process on a proposed Special Rate Variation of 52.52% cumulative over two years – 24% in 2023/24 and 23% in 2024/25. These include the estimated rates peg set by IPART.

Council is needing to deal with an important issue that was first raised with community in 2014 – the matter of long-term financial sustainability. In short, Council does not receive enough revenue in its general fund to cover the cost of maintaining current community assets, services, and facilities such as roads, drainage, parks, playground, library, pools, museum, gallery, Roxy etc.

Mayor Tony Reneker said a Special Rate Variation (SRV) is required to improve Council’s general fund which is the only one of four Council funds that requires attention to achieve long-term sustainability.  The water, sewer and domestic waste funds remain healthy and sustainable.

“Like many Councils across rural and regional NSW, Leeton is facing increasing operational costs which are impacting us all and the annual rate peg is simply not enough to secure a financially sustainable future for Council.

“Council has been using its cash reserves to prop up general fund operations, a situation that needs to be addressed before it starts to become critical. 

While we currently have good cash reserves, using them for day-to-day operations is neither responsible nor sustainable,” he said.

An SRV does not mean Council has ‘run out of money’ (yet).  However, it does indicate that the gap between the cost to deliver services and the rates income is widening – a situation Council needs to be addressed.

For Council’s General Fund to be financially sustainable over the longer term, there is need to address the annual ongoing deficits estimated at $4.1 million in 2023/24 increasing over 10 years to $5.1 million in 2032/33.

The proposed SRV will produce additional revenue of $3.4 million over 2 years, enabling Council to maintain the level of services and infrastructure that our community has told us it wants and needs.

Before Council applies to IPART, it is essential that Shire ratepayers understand fully what a SRV means and how it will affect them.

More information on the SRV proposal – including a  Special Variation Background Paper, SRV FAQ’s, Long-Term Financial Plan and how you can have your say – is available on Council’s website at https://haveyoursay.leeton.nsw.gov.au/special-rate-variation

The community is encouraged to provide feedback to Council on the proposed SRV and Long-Term Financial Plan in any of the following ways:

ELECTRONICALLY: Complete the survey on Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ online engagement portal at https://haveyoursay.leeton.nsw.gov.au/special-rate-variation

BY EMAIL TO: council@leeton.nsw.gov.au

BY LETTER: Address to the General Manager, 23–25 Chelmsford Place, Leeton NSW 2705. 

Submissions must be received by Council by 5pm on Wednesday 9 November 2022.

Several community information sessions (face to face and online) are also being held across the Shire in October and the community is being encouraged to attend.  Dates and times are as follows:

Date                                                         Time                            Location

Tuesday 18 October 2022                    3.30-4.30pm              Yanco Hall

Tuesday 18 October 2022                    6.00–7.00pm             Hydro Hotel Leeton

Wednesday 19 October 2022              10.00–11.00am          Leeton Library

Wednesday 19 October 2022              12noon-1pm               Wamoon Park

Wednesday 19 October 2022              2.00–3.00pm              Gossamer Park

Wednesday 19 October 2022              6.00–7.00pm              Hydro Hotel Leeton 

Thursday 20 October 2022                   10.00–11.00am          Whitton Hall

Thursday 20 October 2022                   12noon–1pm             Murrami Hall

Tuesday 25 October 2022                    11am–1pm                 CBD Kiosk, Pine Ave

Thursday 27 October 2022                   10.00-11am                ONLINE
Online Link - https://bit.ly/3RkX7HU

Thursday 27 October 2022                   5.30pm-6.30pm         ONLINE
Online Link - https://bit.ly/3LSIhHo