The draft budget of 8% rate increase – comprising 6% special rate variation in relation to the Corowa Aquatic Centre approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) on top of the state capped 2% - is therefore formally adopted for 2021/22.
Following the 28-day public exhibition of council’s draft budget, one formal submission from the public was received which included reference to rate harmonisation, forecasts of 8-12% rate increases, what services would be cut if nothing was done to increase the rates, the aquatic centre, Ball Park return, the new cycle track Corowa Mulwala cycle track and developer contributions.
Detailed responses were provided by council’s director corporate and community services Jo Shannon which included:
• The extra SRV that has been planned is to start in 2023/24. Before council applies for the SRV from IPART, council will be running community consultation sessions to see if the community wants the same service levels and an improvement of asset backlog; if the community does not want an SRV, what services do they want lowered to enable council to continue to operate viably.
• The total running costs of the Corowa Aquatic Centre have been based on information available from other similar facilities and proposed resourcing levels and opening hours.
• The projected operating loss on the Ball Park Caravan Park for the draft 21/22 budget is a loss of $264,000…the park is very reliant on the Victorian tourism market and hence Covid-19 remains an ongoing issue in terms of visitation.
• The new bike track has been funded by the NSW Government…as part of the grant conditions the path will be sealed.
• Developers pay for the base infrastructure in a subdivision, but as soon as it is released council has the operation and maintenance costs.
Due to the rates harmonisation project still underway, the general rates structure for 2021/22 will not be adopted until the July 20 monthly meeting.
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