Households and businesses in regional New South Wales are facing 'astonishing' rates rises of more than 100 per cent, just to maintain existing local government services.
abc.net.au/news/nsw-council-rates-rise-cost-of-living-struggles/101971698Cynthia Coppock was lured to regional New South Wales by the prospect of a quiet country lifestyle and cheaper house.Property owners in some NSW local government areas face rate hikes of more than 100 per centCouncils say a rate capping policy has resulted in their budgets going backwards
The scale of the proposed increases has raised questions about the rate capping policy and financial viability of councils, which have become heavily reliant on state and federal grants.Ms Coppock moved to Urbenville to retire and said she was "flabbergasted" when the council approved a rate rise that would push her annual bill from $3,500 this financial year to $4,566 by 2024-25.
She started crying when she told the ABC she had started looking at cheaper properties outside the shire because she was so worried about the proposed rate hike."I've been looking to buy a place on the floodplains which is dicey, I know.Rates risesTenterfield Shire council 104.5 per cent over 2 yearsQueanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council 64 per cent over 3 years
Cooma garlic farmer, and one-time local government candidate, Vele Civijovski said the council approved the rates rise despite strong community opposition, and had failed to articulate what services and facilities were in the firing line. Living 15 minutes out of town, Mr Civijovski already misses out on council services like garbage collection, and spends his Saturdays transporting rubbish to the local tip.
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