Ratepayers can look forward to bigger rate hikes starting next year, after the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal lifted the ceiling on NSW council rate rises.
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Starting from the 2020/2021 financial year, Griffith City Council will be able to increase their rates by a maximum of 2.6 per cent.
The surprise IPART announcement comes three months earlier than normal, spurred by rising council costs across the board.
Mayor John Dal Broi said he welcomed the increased rate peg, and that council should take full advantage of the increased rate caps.
"We would certainly look to get the maximum allowable rate increase," Councillor Dal Broi said.
"We do need to pay more rates if we want to progress as a city."
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Griffith City Council has been consistently raising their rates in line with maximum cap set by IPART, and Cr Dal Broi said it was necessary to keep up with the rising expenses.
"If we were to not increase our rates for one year, we'd end up going backwards and we wouldn't keep up with inflation," Cr Dal Broi said.
His sentiment was echoed by IPART chairman Dr Paul Paterson, who said rising employee costs, construction bills, and the emergency services levy were weighing heavily on NSW councils.
Dr Paterson said the early rate peg announcement would help councils to restore their bank balances in the face of rising expenses.
"Our decision to release it three months earlier than in previous years, enables councils to better plan both their revenue and expenditure over the year ahead," Dr Paterson said.
"Bringing forward councils' ability to recoup costs associated with the Emergency Services Levy to the year after they are incurred, instead of two years later, will help councils adjust to these costs."
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