Maitland City Council is
hoping to meet with residents to discuss future funding options.
Council is running seven
drop-in sessions over the week so residents a chance to give feedback about the
Council’s proposed rate increases.
General Manager, David Evans,
says residents have already indicated support for rate increases to ensure
current services. Mr Evans said rate revenue was council’s “largest single
income stream.”
“There are two suggested
increases one of 7.25% increase per year and one of 8.95% increase per
year,” Mr Evans said, “the two range between about at $86 a year
increase for the 7.25% increase and about $106 a year increase for the higher
one.”
The Independent Pricing and
Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approved increases of around 3% to 3.2% a year.
“If Council does nothing but
continue with the allowable increases approved by IPART each year, we would
accumulate a deficit of over $92 million”, said Mr Evans.
The drop-in sessions follow
on from Council’s rates survey released earlier this year.
The first session is tonight
5.30 ‘til 7.30 tonight at East Maitland Library.
More information can be found
at
maitlandyoursay.com