Proposed Special Rate Variation

Council delivers a range of services that our community wants and needs. What we deliver is informed by the Community Strategic Plan and Community Surveys which we respond to via a Delivery Program.

Council is needing to deal with an important issue that was first raised with community in 2016 – the matter of long-term financial sustainability. In short, Council does not receive enough revenue to cover the cost of maintaining current community assets, services and facilities. Note - This does not include water and sewer services which are separate funds that are financially sustainable.

Increasingly 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. To get to a sound financial position over the longer term, Council needs income greater than its costs to fully cover general fund operations while having some spare for future renewals of key assets.

To rectify current operating deficits, Council requires a cumulative rate increase of 52.52% over 2 years including the estimated rate pegs. To achieve this, Council is proposing a 20% increase each year (2023/24 and 2024/25) for 2 years, delivering a cumulative rate of 44% for two years total without the rate peg included.

Council has reviewed matters and found an improvement of $600K which helps the bottom line a little. However, to achieve all the revenue needed to get us onto a financially sustainable footing,

Table 1 Proposed rate increases – 2-year SRV Option

As ratepayers in Leeton Shire Council, now invites your views on the proposed Special Rates Variation.

Council will seek feedback from the community on the SRV and its updated Long-Term Financial Plan(PDF, 2MB) from 29 September to 9 November 2022.  For more detailed information please visit our online engagement platform Have Your Say

If you want to estimate how the proposed SRV will impact your property’s rates, you can use our online rates calculator. You will need to enter your property assessment number into the field provided. Check your last rates notice to find the assessment number.  Please note this provides an estimate only.