CRG Communique #1 2025

The Council Rreference Group (CRG) met for the first time in 2025, on 28 April, to workshop the priorities it proposes the Tribunal consider for setting the 2026-27 rate peg, and for future CRG discussions.  

Members nominated a range of topics for discussion and also reviewed discussion points from last year’s process. 

The CRG grouped all items into four categories.  

These were issues; to be considered when setting the 2026-27 rate peg; for consideration in the 2027-28 rate peg; for consideration in future rate pegs; and issues beyond the rate peg. 

Current matters to be discussed further for potential consideration for this year’s rate peg:

  • Adjustments for:
    • Valuer General costs;
    • By-election costs; and,
    • Employee costs (in the base)
  • Levies (including timing of levies from government to be included in rates):
    • Dam Safety Levy and any other new levies
    • Cemetery & Crematorium levy
  • No increase in statutory fees
  • Removal of commonwealth land values from information provided by Valuer General
  • Background research for information:
    • Comparative analysis with councils in other jurisdictions
    • Comparison of rates in other jurisdictions (rate vs. household expenditure)  

Issues for consideration in the next or future rate pegs:  

  • Disaster response planning
  • Resilience related costs particularly asset value management
  • Response to parliamentary inquiry
  • Comparative study of whole of life infrastructure – impact for ongoing infrastructure
  • Levies (including timing of levies from government to be included in rates)
    • any other new levies
  • Adjustments for:
    • Employee costs (bespoke per council)
    • Cyber security 

Issues to consider for future/long term rate pegs: 

  • Long-term impact statutory fees not increasing
  • Longer term climate change related costs
  • Transition to fully forward-looking methodology (e.g. for population factor, Emergency Services Levy factor)     

Other issues outside the rate peg which may have implications for Councils   

  • Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) costs
  • Build to rent
  • Should councils be used to collect taxes/levies?
  • Application process for small rate increases (Special Variations)
  • Removing the rate peg 

 The next CRG meeting will be held on Monday 23 June. 

Council Reference Group members

In attendance at the Council Reference Group meeting on 28 April 2025:

  • George Cowan, General Manager, Narrandera Shire Council
  • Anthony McMahon, CEO, Bega Valley Council
  • Vicki Mayo, CEO, Local Government Professionals (for part)
  • Wayne Rogers, Director Corporate Services, Blacktown City Council
  • Damian Thomas, Director Advocacy, Local Government NSW (in place of Shaun McBride)
  • David Reynolds, CEO, Local Government NSW
  • Michael Chorlton, Director Corporate Services, Tweed Shire Council
  • Ian Clayton, Manager Property and Revenue, Mid-Western Regional Council
  • Richard Sheridan, Chair of the Local Government Finance Professionals Network, and Director City Performance, Bayside Council
  • Andrew Butcher, President, NSW Revenue Professionals
  • Robert Hay, NSW Revenue Professionals
  • Tina Baldock, Director Sector Policy, Office of Local Government