Lismore rates proposal part 2 open for feedback

The second of a two-part community consultation is underway as Lismore City Council asks what residents what they think about rates.

With a new proposal for consideration Council has been undertaking a community consultation on rates since 1 August about a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) that would apply to all Lismore ratepayers.

In the first consultation, Council asked residents and ratepayers to consider a proposed SRV with a year one increase of 17% and a year two increase of 6.9%.

Council has responded to community feedback by developing a new SRV proposal to consider. Round one of the consultation is now closed and the community is being asked to provide comment on the new proposal during round two.

Lismore Mayor Isaac Smith says community feedback told Council that the year one increase was higher than expected. ‘We have had lots of comments and suggestions and have listened to this feedback,’ said Mr Smith. ‘We have developed a second round of consultation that includes a new proposal with smaller annual increases spread over a greater number of years.

‘We are asking the community to take our new survey and provide feedback to help us make an informed decision.’

Round two has three options

In the round two consultation, residents and ratepayers have three options to consider.

Option 1 No Special Rate Variation

Rates would rise only by the rate peg limit set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). This is assumed at a rate of 2.5% each year.

Option 2 Special Rate Variation over four years

This option would provide $3.74 million total additional funds for roads and $1 million total additional funds for economic development over four years. Rates would rise by 7.5% in year one (2020/21), 9.4% in year two (2021/22), 3.9% in year three (2022/23) and 3.2% in year four (2023/24) including the annual rate peg.

Option 3 Special Rate Variation over two years (the original proposal)

This option would provide $4.5 million total additional funds for roads and $1.6 million total additional funds for economic development over two years. Rates would rise by 17% in year one (2020/21) and 6.9% in year two (2021/22) including the annual rate peg.

Mayor Smith says that additional funding from an SRV would be directed into roads and economic development. ‘At present our roads are not improving – an SRV would enable us to channel more funds into road reconstruction and addressing our backlog of works. As we all use roads, additional works would improve life for all residents and ratepayers, he said.

‘Funds would also be used to drive economic development initiatives and provide tangible benefits for the city. We want to find out how people feel about funding these initiatives as well as how they feel about funding projects relating to open spaces and sporting/recreational facilities into the future.’

Revenue is regulated by IPART

Mayor Smith said that Council’s revenue is regulated by IPART, which sets a ‘rate peg’ that limits the amount by which councils can increase rates from one year to the next.

‘For many years, the rate peg has not kept pace with the increasing cost to maintain our assets and provide services to the community, so we need to have this important conversation about rates and how we can continue to fund services adequately into the future.’

Council is asking all residents and ratepayers to have their say on the new proposal during the round two consultation.

All feedback from round one and round two of the consultation will be provided to Council at its 12 November meeting where a decision on whether to make an application to IPART for an SRV will be made.

The round two rates consultation is open for community feedback until 30 September.

Visit www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au to find detailed information, take the new survey and have your say. People can also find hard copy information and surveys at Council’s Corporate Centre, 43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah, and the Lismore and GoonellabahLibraries.