THE state government, clearly keen to create larger local and regional councils, now says that several councils will be dependent on state and federal government grants for their survival and, in some cases, currently rely on financial help to survive.
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The state government is indicating merged councils, perhaps super councils, will be able to increase their revenue bases because it will amend legislation related to rate pegging.
That will mean merged councils will be able to charge their ratepayers more for general rates.
Wouldn’t it be more of a sweetener for ratepayers if state government could actually demonstrate costs really would be reduced by the creation of larger local government areas or local government boundary changes, which could also reflect a change in voting patterns?
Would the Treasurer commit to a reduction in state taxes if merged councils were able to raise more revenue?
I bet he wouldn’t.
Allan Brown
Batemans Bay