Rating Options to Secure our Future

This consultation has concluded.

Have your say on a rate increase for Port Macquarie-Hastings

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council faces significant financial pressures on its future budgets. Council's general rate fund could be reduced by almost $2.5 million in July 2012 as a result of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) only granting a rate rise guaranteed for the current financial year.

Council is considering a new application to IPART in order to secure long term rate funding that would deliver the infrastructure and particularly roadworks that the community have identified as priorities.

To make any application to IPART it is vital that Council knows what the community thinks of the financial plan and the proposed options for a rate rise.

This site explains the rating options Council has developed in response to the financial situation and taking into account the community engagement carried out over 2010/11.

Options Snapshot?

Reduce rates to base level and cut $2.5 million in services
Secure funding – permanently apply the 7.3% rate increase that is in place this financial year, minimum change to residential rates from current charges.
Additional rate rise for five year dedicated road funding program from the following options:
- Option 1: approximately $50 a year increase to rates to generate $1.68 million for road maintenance and transport works.
- Option 2: approximately $75 a year increase to rates to generate $2.52 million for road maintenance, transport works including parking strategy.
- Option 3: approximately $100 a year increase to rates to generate $3.37 million for road maintenance, transport, parking and road construction works

Find out more

Download and read the Future Service brochure
Read the fact sheets that further explain the Rate Options, Services at Risk and provide background on Previous Consultation
Join the Community Reference Group to participate in a workshop

Tell us which option you support:

Complete the survey to lodge your opinion on the options and go in the draw to win an IPad2.
Add your comments to our discussion topics below

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Forum

What sorts of benefits and challenges do you see if Council were to consider a community maintenance program for community assets?

Comments 15

This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.

During the 2010 consultation one of the ideas raised for reducing Council expenditure was to create a program of community responsibility and maintenance of assets such as community parks and reserves. What are your thoughts?

by admin 17 Nov 2011, 6:27am | 745 views