The message from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to Shoalhaven City Council was clear: we will approve one above rate-pegging increase but if you want another, you’ll have to present a pretty strong argument. This is a welcome outcome insofar as it recognises times are tough for ratepayers and for council, which is struggling to maintain the services the community demands.
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However, even if it does fall way short of the 29 per cent hike over two years council was pitching for, it will hurt plenty of hip pockets in the Shoalhaven.
Wage earners certainly can’t expect a pay rise of just over 13 per cent so this year’s increase will be felt. Indeed, added to the emergency services levy that will soon appear on rates notices it will come as a bit of bill shock.
So, too, for self funded retirees, many of whom are on fixed incomes. It may be an average increase of $136 in 2017-2018 but when added to the upward trajectory of every other household cost, it will eat into already meagre budgets.
With power bills heading north for the winter, every cent will count. And what’s good for the goose (the ratepayer) has to be good for the gander (council) as well.
Council needs to ensure every buck extracted from this year’s increase comes with the bang ratepayers are entitled to.
Ratepayers will be fiercely scrutinising council’s actions and the way it spends money.
Any suggestion of waste or indulgence will come down hard on councillors’ heads.
One area of waste we’re keeping a close eye on involves the fallout from the public debate surrounding this rate increase.
Code of Conduct investigations have been launched against the Shoalhaven Independents for the way they prosecuted their arguments against the rates increase being pursued by council.
We can’t help wondering how much these investigations will cost ratepayers and whether, seeing IPART has made its determination, they’re a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
The complaints relate to questions raised about the way council staff did the number crunching in their pitch for rate hikes. The equivalent in Canberra would be pollies grilling senior bureaucrats over expenditure.
Hurtful? Maybe. Worth spending thousands of dollars on? Probably not.
When money is tight, spend it well.
