City of Busselton to investigate risks and rewards of bringing rate payments forward for next year

City of Busselton staff will investigate adopting its 2025/26 budget earlier than normal despite concern from some councillors it would bring more pain for ratepayers. The motion, brought forward by Cr Andrew Macnish, requests city staff come back to the elected members with a report outlining the risks and benefits of adopting the budget and receiving rate revenue as early as possible for the next financial year. According to Cr Macnish, for every week budget adoption is delayed it costs the city approximately $19,000 in lost interest revenue. “Any good business tries to get the money as soon as it can because arguably there’s $19,000 per week of interest that we can make or save in bringing the budget adoption forward,” he said. “It also allows the elected members and the community I believe more of a participatory opportunity in the compilation or development of the budget.” Not all councillors were convinced by the pitch, with councillors Mikayla Love, Val Kaigg and Phill Cronin all voicing their concerns. Cr Kaigg said she would struggle to stomach the potential impact on ratepayers. “We have just adopted a budget of a seven per cent rate increase and now in the next breath we’re asking to bring a report through to see if we can get the budget through even earlier for the next financial year which will bring that costing to our ratepayers earlier,” she said. “We had to make the decision for the seven per cent rate increase understanding that they are struggling and we are all struggling but we had reason to increase it by seven per cent. “But now to look at bringing it forward even further to get more money, I feel, is a little bit of a smack in the face.” In his rebuttal, Cr Macnish insisted earlier rating would not mean rates were “doubling up” between budgets. According to the local Government Act, councils must adopt a budget between June 1 and August 31 — this year the Busselton council adopted the budget on July 31. Officer comments on the motion said while earlier adoption of the budget would increase interest on revenue, it came at the risk of needing to make financial estimates with a larger likelihood of being incorrect. The motion was ultimately passed six votes to one, with Cr Kaigg the one vote against. City staff will now create the report and any decision to move rate notices forward would need to be made by council at a later meeting.