Rates increase locked in for next decade

Despite outcry which spread across social media last August when a 4.5 per cent annual rate increase was announced, leading to the Margaret River Community Voice Facebook page launch, few members of the community attended the meeting at which councillors voted to accept an increase.

However, councillors were voting on a four per cent rate increase per year over the next ten years, revised down from the 4.5 per cent forecast in the Shire’s Long Term Financial Plan.

The increase was revised in response to last year’s significant community protesting, and to accommodate the lower rate of increase $500,000 of Shire spending on “once off projects, contract services and discretionary items” has been cut.

Councillors Kylie Kennaugh and Felicity Haynes were both voted to council after the rate hike was proposed with plans to curb the increase, but both accepted that Shire officers had been as frugal as possible in outlining the long term financial plan.

“Each and every one of us is affected by the increases, we are not immune by being on the Shire Council,” Cr Kennaugh said.

“I am disappointed the people who appeared most interested in rates are not here tonight.”

Cr Haynes said the increases were not imposed on residents so the Shire could be extravagant in future spending, but simply so increasing costs could be met.

Councillor Ian Earl mentioned that the only way the Shire could avoid a rate increase would be to begin cutting services such as the swimming pool, library and cultural centre.

“The damage lower rates would do over the next ten years is enormous.”

Shire president Mike Smart also commented on the absence of a significant community presence.

“I thought there would be a bigger delegation from the Community Voice website here tonight,” Cr Smart said, before listing a range of the Shire’s achievements in the six years he had been on council.

“If you want facilities you have to pay for them,” Cr Smart said.