Carnarvon advertises minimum rate increase of $126 as it looks to raise revenue by 8.5 per cent

Shire of Carnarvon ratepayers are looking at a proposed minimum rate rise of $126 across all property types as the council aims to raise total rates revenue by 8.5 per cent.

In June’s ordinary council meeting, commissioner Martin Aldridge, who functions in place of a full council until the local election in December, approved advertising the rate rise.

The revenue raised by the differential rates is expected to increase 8.5 per cent, resulting in an additional $7.9 million for the shire.

The minimum payment for all properties is set to rise by $126, with the proposed minimum payment from $1454 last financial year to an advertised $1580.

The report emphasised that “the proposed 8.5 per cent is the movement in total rates revenue across the whole model. It must not be described as an 8.5 per cent increase for every property”.

The council also modelled 6.95 per cent and 9.5 per cent yield increases. The 8.5 per cent option was chosen as the best balance of affordability and budget need.

In the report authorised by shire CEO Amanda Dexter presented to the council, she said the shire acknowledged that many local residents were going through tough economic times, but the rate increase was essential for maintaining services.

“The proposal is intended to maintain service delivery, protect community assets and avoid transferring an excessive maintenance and renewal burden to future ratepayers,” the report read.

It also stated the scale of services the shire provides across Carnarvon, Coral Bay, and a large rural area contributed to the rate increase.

Escalating costs for materials, fuel and contractors while maintaining the assets and increased award wages for staff were also reasons cited. The shire has also had to manage financial impacts of significant weather events in the past several months.

“Any increase is a real cost to households and businesses and should not be trivialised,” Ms Dexter’s report said.

Facilities including two airports, two waste facilities, roads, libraries and community facilities, and tourism infrastructure, were all cited as vital assets managed by the shire.