NSW Local Council rate increases - 2021–22
IPART has made decisions on special variation applications from eight councils to increase their income from rates above the rate peg.
We received a large number of submissions from ratepayers on the applications. We carefully considered the submission and balanced the community concerns against some councils’ demonstrated need for additional revenue to provide important community facilities such as roads, parks, playgrounds and libraries, in making our decision.
Councils are also required to show that they have conducted community consultation, assessed the impact on ratepayers and made productivity savings where possible.
IPART has approved special variation applications for single year increases for 2021‑22 for Armidale Regional Council, Federation Council and Tweed Shire Council.
We have also approved multi‑year increases for Canterbury Bankstown Council, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council and Georges River Council.
IPART has decided to approve a temporary increase for Central Coast Council. This will allow the council to increase its general income from rates for three years only.
We have also approved a temporary 2-year increase for Liverpool Plains Shire Council.
We have attached conditions to the special variation approvals requiring the councils to use the additional income for the purposes outlined in each application. The councils are also required to report to the community about how the additional revenue is spent.
IPART has also approved increases to the minimum rates of four councils. These are Bayside Council, Canterbury Bankstown Council, Georges River Council and Inner West Council. These applications respond to a government requirement to harmonise rates and will allow the councils to make rating structures consistent across the newly merged councils. Harmonising minimum rates will not change the council’s general income overall.
A summary of the decisions is included here.
The reports for each council explaining our reasons in the decisions can be found here.