Council to Consult with Community on Rate Options
Published on 24 February 2020
Snowy Valleys Council is set to undertake community consultation on options for rates harmonisation and the Council’s long term financial sustainability in the coming weeks.
Chief Executive Officer Matthew Hyde said under legislation Council must develop new fair and equitable rating structures and provide the community a meaningful opportunity to be a part of the decision-making process.
“We acknowledge that the timing is not ideal as people are grappling with bushfire recovery concerns, however amalgamated councils only have until June 2021 to complete their rates harmonisation process and the groundwork needs to be started now in planning for a decision by the new Council elected in September,” Mr Hyde said
Rates harmonisation requires Council to develop a new formula and a new rating structure for Snowy Valleys Council across previously existing boundaries, replacing rates systems that existed under the previous structures.
Impact of rates harmonisation on ratepayers will also be influenced significantly by land valuations determined every three years by the NSW Valuer General which provides the base for the calculation as required by legislation.
“Council will undertake a range of activities over the next few months to ensure everyone has a wide understanding of the options and can easily provide their feedback,” Mr Hyde said. “Activities will include workshop meetings, electronic and hard copy surveys and an information campaign”.
A Road to Sustainability Project Plan was also endorsed at last week’s February Council Meeting.
The Road to Sustainability Project Plan outlines the changes and vital steps for Council to take in determining long term expenditure, modelling and a review of possible alternate funding options as part of the development of an updated suite of Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) documents.
“Once elected in September 2020, the new Council will be required to consider and endorse a new, harmonised rating structure and appropriate strategies to address Council’s long term sustainability,” Mr Hyde said.